As we prepare to witness a 58-year-old Mike Tyson step into the ring once again with a 27-year-old Jake Paul, the boxing legend's last opponents have shared a chilling warning to the YouTuber.
With thousands pouring into AT&T Stadium and millions more watching around the world on Netflix, tonight's bout is already shaping up to be one of the most historic nights in the sport of boxing.
However, although many have questioned whether or not the fight should even be going ahead given the huge age gap between the competitors, we all have to remember one thing...
...this is "Iron" Mike Tyson.
And those who last stepped in the ring with Tyson have now spoken out and shared a chilling glimpse into what Paul has coming.
Back in June 2005, Tyson fought his last competitive fight against Kevin McBride.
Despite walking away with the win, McBride admits that he still feels the effects of Tyson's incredible and ferocious power.
In an interview with BloodyElbow.com, McBride issues a warning to Paul.
"Jake Paul is a young kid," McBride highlighted - shining a spotlight on the 27-year-old’s inexperience when compared to 58-year-old Tyson. "He has youth with him but Mike Tyson’s power is unbelievable. I still feel it to this day, more than 19 years later.
"He hits so hard and power is the last thing to go. George Foreman proved that against Michael Moorer. Sure he was a bit younger than Mike is now but power-wise it is one of the biggest punches in history and he can probably knock Jake out."
Of course, Tyson would return to the ring four years ago - this time for an exhibition fight.
Roy Jones Jr went head-to-head in an exhibition clash with Tyson back in 2020 and was left re-thinking his choices after the veteran went all in, landing some clean face and body shots reflecting his prime days.
In an interview with Andre Ward, the American fighter alerted the social media star about Tyson's punching power, despite his age.
When asked by Ward how it felt being punched by the heavyweight legend, Jones Jr said: "First time he hit me in the chest, it felt like a mule had kicked me in the chest. At 57-years-old: I said 'Oh my goodness, ok! You won't hit me no more.'"
In a separate interview, he doubled down on this stating that Tyson's skills will most likely end up winning him the upcoming battle.
Speaking to MMANytt.com, he said: “I believe in Mike, likely via decision. But if he wants to finish it, he can. Yet, if he’s just looking to enjoy the fight, he might take it slow and have some fun."
"I’m not worried about Mike and his age. Mike is still hard to hit, and he hits like a truck," Jones Jr added.
Paul has received some criticism for fighting someone in his late 50s, but to him, it's not about age and instead, it's about living out his dreams.
"A lot of people are wondering 'Jake, why are you doing this? Even if you beat him, they're going to say he's old,'" he told the outlet. "But to me, Mike Tyson wanted to fight me."
He continued: "That is an honor. He's one of the most famous boxers in the world to ever do it. To step in there with someone of his nature is an honor and a dream come true. It's going to be a spectacle on Netflix."
As Tyson and Paul prepare to step in front of approximately 80,000 fans at AT&T Stadium, the latter's health has also been a topic of conversation going into the fight.
The pair were due to fight earlier this year, but Tyson was forced to pull out of the contest after suffering an ulcer flare-up in May.
Is Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul a professional boxing match?
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation has officially sanctioned Friday night's fight as a professional heavyweight match -- however, it does come with several unique modifications compared to your standard fight.
Instead of the standard 10-ounce gloves, Paul and Tyson will wear 14-ounce gloves, minimizing the risk of a knockout. On top of this, each round will be shortened to two minutes, with a total of eight rounds planned - a call that will undoubtedly favor Tyson’s legendary explosiveness.
Commenting on Tyson's unyielding stamina, Jones Jr said: "When I boxed [Tyson] four years ago, we did two-minute rounds, and, surprisingly, he didn’t lose energy; he kept the same pace."
