Jake Paul almost missed out on Mike Tyson boxing fight to UFC legend

legend Chael Sonnen sensationally claimed he nearly ended up taking on former undisputed heavyweight champion in the boxing ring.

'Iron Mike' hasn't fought a professional contest since suffering a defeat to Kevin McBride back in 2005. He did, however, take on Roy Jones Jr in an exhibition showdown back in 2020 and will return to the ring next week when he takes on at the AT&T Stadium in Texas.

Next week's clash will see the two stars meet in a - as opposed to the more standard three-minute rounds. The sanctioned fight has already been approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Both boxers will wear 14-ounce gloves, heavier than the standard gloves.

Before his fight with Paul was signed on the dotted line, Tyson was offered exhibitions and opportunities to compete in the squared-circle again. In a recent , Sonnen claimed that he was initially due to face the 58-year-old.

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“I am also much younger than Mike Tyson and I was to a letter of intent phase of fighting Mike Tyson,” Sonnen said. “It was some rooftop in Saudi Arabia, it was this thing. I remember how I felt inside, I was signing it and I was doing my part and I was excited, it was Mike Tyson, it was going to be a big thing. I ended up boxing with Anderson Silva instead, but I’m just sharing with you from a very personal standpoint, I didn’t think about his age.

“I told coach Clayton, I asked could I beat this guy? Same question I asked before every fight and he said ‘of course, champ this guy is 55-years-old’. But it didn’t give me a lot of confidence, I must tell you, I still see him as a certain way. I know how important the approach is. If Jake Paul also views Tyson that way I think that’s very respectful, it lets us into the mindset of Jake Paul.”

The 47-year-old spent most of his career competing in the cage. With a professional record of 31–17–1, Sonnen retired from the sport in 2019. While nothing came to fruition regarding a fight with Tyson, the icon does have experience in the exhibition boxing scene. He took on long-time rival Anderson Silva back in June, securing a draw with the MMA legend.

With just a week to go until Tyson's clash with Paul, there are a few who believe the 58-year-old is not taking the fight seriously. During a recent interview with Jimmy Kimmel, 'Iron Mike' claimed he was training six hours a day. "I am training extremely hard, I do six hours a day. I start at 11am and might leave the gym at 5pm," he said. Kimmel looked stunned and replied: "Oh no. 11am? So that's six hours straight, or is there a lunch break?" The former heavyweight champion admitted there was a small break as a shocked Kimmel gasped: "Oh no."