Mike Tyson Admits He's 'Scared to Death' as Jake Paul Fight Approaches

Boxing fans and non-boxing fans alike have been eager to see former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson take on YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in an exhibition match this summer. Tyson certainly has the credentials to his name, but Paul has been hard at work training for the event.

When speaking to Fox News' Sean Hannity on April 2, Tyson explained that the Paul people have come to know on YouTube and social media won't be the person that's in the ring on July 20. He also noted how he's feeling going into it and how he's approaching the endeavor.

"Anything I'm afraid of, I confront it," he said. "And that's my personality. Like right now, I'm scared to death. But as the fight gets closer, the less nervous I become because it's reality. And in reality, I'm invincible."

Tyson has been training every day for the fight, and despite being 30 years Paul's senior, he doesn't believe the former YouTuber is faster than him. He did, however, commend him for coming a "long way" from his early days as a social media star.

"That's not the guy I'm going to be fighting," Tyson told Hannity of the new-and-improved Paul. "This guy is going to come and try to hurt me, which I'm accustomed to. And he's going to be greatly mistaken."

Paul, meanwhile, isn't threatened by Tyson's résumé. While he doesn't deny Tyson's impact on the sport, the 27-year-old is also confident he can take the 57-year-old legend down.

"My sights are set on becoming a world champion, and now I have a chance to prove myself against the greatest heavyweight champion of the world, the baddest man on the planet and the most dangerous boxer of all time," Paul wrote on social media last month. "Time to put Iron Mike to sleep."

The Tyson/Paul fight will take place July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX and will be live-streamed on Netflix.