Jake Paul Reacts to Mike Tyson Slap Ahead of Fight

Jake Paul said it was a “pinch me” moment getting slapped by Mike Tyson ahead of their highly anticipated bout.

The YouTuber is fighting Tyson, who is arguably the greatest boxer in the history of the sport, on November 15 in Arlington, Texas. The pair faced each other at the traditional weigh-in, where things got heated and the 58-year-old slapped Paul in the face, after previously remaining silent to the YouTuber’s goading.

Tyson slapped Paul after the latter crawled across the floor and then rose up to meet his opponent eye-to-eye. Their respective entourages and security stepped in to prevent the situation escalating.

“Talking’s over,” Tyson said and walked off stage. In response, Paul smiled as he sat down on the ground in a meditation pose and closed his eyes.

“I didn’t even feel it. He’s angry. He’s an angry little elf,” Paul later told media. “Mike Tyson, I thought that was a cute slap, buddy, but tomorrow you’re getting knocked out.”

Paul again referred to the slap on his social media after the weigh-in.

“This is a pinch me moment. I got slapped by Mike Tyson 🤗,” Paul wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Newsweek contacted representatives for both fighters by email on Friday morning for comment.

People reacted to Paul’s comment in the replies of his post.

“dont look like a pinch me moment…” wrote @Kuma4King.

“Your face melted on impact,” replied @sh4mrock1.

“This not a pinch bud,” added @IwillrouteU.

And @GloryDoge commented: “Mike Tyson is going to knock you out tomorrow.”

Paul and Tyson were originally scheduled to face off in July, but the fight was rescheduled due to a medical scare that Tyson experienced on a flight from Las Vegas to Los Angeles

Paul first entered the boxing world in 2020 when he fought fellow a YouTuber, with the former winning in the first round.

He has a 10-1 win record going into his fight against Tyson in Texas on Saturday.

Paul’s one defeat came at the hands of Love Island star Tommy Fury, who is also the younger brother of heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury.

Their bout was held at the Diriyah Arena, in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, where Paul lost by a split decision.

If he defeats Tyson, the YouTuber said he would challenge Canelo Alvarez to a bout.

“I do (have a callout). It’s Canelo. This moment will prove that I’m the face of boxing, the largest attraction. Me vs. Canelo at 200 pounds for the cruiserweight championship of the world is the biggest fight, arguably even bigger than me vs. Tyson. It makes so much sense,” Paul said on a YouTube series, the TimboSugarShow.

“Canelo is on his way out. He’s going to want a payday, and I want to show the world that all the s*** I’ve been talking about beating Canelo is actually true.”