Controversial YouTube star-turned-boxer Jake Paul finds himself embroiled in controversy once again as fans accuse him of faking a recreation of Mike Tyson's iconic photo with a pet tiger.
With their highly anticipated bout scheduled for July 20, Paul has been drumming up excitement by recreating Tyson's memorable moments, including a recent comedy sketch poking fun at Tyson's infamous ear-biting incident.
However, eagle-eyed fans quickly noticed discrepancies in Paul's recreation, particularly in the authenticity of the tiger featured in the photo. While Tyson famously owned a pet tiger named Kenya, fans argued that Paul's tiger appeared to be fake, sparking speculation and criticism.
Who did it better? pic.twitter.com/K6HmfeUD5Q
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) March 17, 2024
"Tyson's wasn't photoshopped," remarked one fan, echoing the sentiments of many others who questioned the legitimacy of Paul's recreation.
Another fan pondered, "Is that a CGI tiger?"
Paul has been defending Tyson and his past achievements, trying to shift the attention to the upcoming fight. However, the specifics of the match, whether it will be a professional fight or an exhibition, are still unclear.
Yes, yes I do. https://t.co/JfSyWf0Qpt
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) March 16, 2024
Despite the hype surrounding the Paul vs. Tyson showdown, concerns linger among boxing enthusiasts regarding Tyson's age, with the former heavyweight champion being 58 years old compared to Paul, who is significantly younger at 27.
Paul continues to stand firm despite the criticism and speculation, stressing that Tyson is the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time and the most fearsome knockout artist in the sport's history. Although details like weight class, rounds, and rules for the fight are still to be finalized, reports indicate it will likely be a heavyweight match without headgear.
"He's the greatest heavyweight of all time...the most vicious KO artist ever," Paul asserted. "But I'm younger, I'm faster and I'm going to be working my ass off to get stronger. A member of my team sent me this video that Mike's coach put up two weeks ago and asked me if I'm sure that I want to do this...yes, yes I do. Heavyweight."