Mike Tyson injury in Jake Paul fight could see call 'for boxing to be banned'

Jake Paul has been warned there could be calls to BAN boxing should he do Mike Tyson damage.

The pair face off in Arlington, Texas on 15 November. The fight comes after the original bout was cancelled after a medical emergency for the former heavyweight champion of the world.

And there is still major concern about Tyson’s health. The 58-year-old recently admitted that it is “hard to walk” after training, while he will also face a medical ahead of his clash with Paul.

But former boxer Paulie Malignaggi has now warned Paul that viewers could potentially demand that the whole sport be banned should he deal out some damage to his upcoming opponent. He said: “Head blows from young, strong guys at Mike's age aren't good. When you're younger, you can handle hits better.

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"When you're older, your body isn't made for that kind of damage anymore. Things could go badly wrong. If something like that happened, people would be calling for the sport to be banned. Personally, I don't think his fight with Jake Paul should happen.

"He'll be 58 years old by then. Fifty-eight is still 58. We live in a generation that doesn't understand ageing is a real thing. You can show highlights of Mike from the '80s, but the guy stepping into the ring won't be that same Mike Tyson."

Malignaggi’s warning continued, with the American seriously concerned that Paul could harm Tyson given his age. Speaking to Canada Casino, he added: "Jake Paul might not be world-class, but he's certainly not a novice. He's been boxing for about five years.

"After four years of boxing, I won the US National Championships, so Jake's far from a beginner. He's strong and young. Hitting someone Tyson's age has serious risks. Tyson wasn't taking punches well at 36, let alone now.

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"If you hit a guy who's that old, it affects them. Imagine what getting hit by a strong guy like Jake would do to him. I wouldn't want to find out."

Malignaggi is not the only one to have been left concerned by the upcoming fight. UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock believes that supporters could effectively be left in mourning for a boxing icon should Paul claim victory.

"Here’s what I say because like I said, I think what Jake Paul and them guys are doing is brilliant, I really do," said Shamrock. "I think them never fighting a contender but making more money than any world championship fight is brilliant. I mean it’s brilliant but this one’s not good. Because Jake Paul can’t win.

“[If Paul] wins, there’s a huge bad taste in the world of boxing. It’s a disappointment to an organisation that has loved Mike Tyson. It is like the death of somebody and it should be victorious for Jake Paul and I think on that small group of people that are following, yes, but, in that whole atmosphere of boxing, it’s gonna feel like somebody died."

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