Jake Paul has admitted that his mother is not delighted about his next fight as he continues to prepare for the biggest event of the year.
There is a lot of controversy surrounding his upcoming showdown with Mike Tyson, with many fans feeling that the heavyweight icon is too old at 58 to be fighting an active professional. But older viewers including the likes of Jimmy Kimmel are positive that he will have too much for career cruiserweight Paul.
And one member of Team Paul who isn’t keen on the match-up is Pam Stepnick; Jake’s mother. She was in her 20s when Tyson started annihilating opponents and earned his reputation as the baddest man on the planet, and fears for her son’s safety on November 15.
Jake Paul admits his mother is scared of Mike Tyson match-up
Since moving over to the boxing ring in 2018, both Jake Paul and his brother Logan have had the full support of their mother; Pam Stepnick. She has been ringside for all of their bouts, even travelling to Saudi Arabia to watch the younger sibling’s clash with Tommy Fury.
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But speaking with Bloody Elbow earlier this year at a PFL media event, Paul claimed that his mother was terrified of his latest announcement. “She will be there but my mom is very scared actually,” he explained at the time.
“Like, she keeps on asking me if I’m ready, asking my team if I’m ready. She’s not liking this one, to be honest. He just looks scary and big, and his Instagram videos on the mitts look crazy and everything, so I get it.”
Jake Paul’s mother Pam asked chilling question before Mike Tyson fight
In a video first posted in March when Paul and Tyson were due for a July date, the social media star asked his mother “Hey, did I tell you that I’m fighting Mike Tyson?” She appeared to nervously giggle before asking “What if he knocks you out?”
Stepnick turned 60 last year, which means she would have been 23 years old when he won his first world title from Trevor Berbick. At the time, he was far and away the most feared man in the world, and his legacy has lived through generations.
She would likely have memories of Tyson’s famous knockout wins against Larry Holmes and Michael Spinks, as well as his ferociousness outside of the ring. And despite knowing that he and her son are friendly outside of the ring, her fears are understandable.
Jake Paul’s dad Greg Paul also fears Mike Tyson showdown
In the same YouTube video, Jake asked his father Greg Paul who his favourite boxer was growing up. The 61-year-old was part of the generation that idolised Tyson, and named him in a blunt response to his son when quizzed.
Greg Paul (Jake Paul’s dad) Boxing Padwork pic.twitter.com/APhgucMkNR
— Fred Beck (@fredpdbeck) January 24, 2023
After he questioned Jake as to why he was asking, his son replied that he “is going to be fighting him in July.” Greg seemed stunned, telling him: “No way, dude, are you f***ing kidding me, Jake? He’s going to be the hardest hitting motherf***er you’ve ever fought. Dude, holy f***, I’m going to be freaking out.”
His father is likely right; Paul is a career cruiserweight who has made his name fighting opponents who are coming up in weight, and even changing sports. He was arguably dropped by Tyron Woodley without it being scored and lost to Tommy Fury, but has yet to take a massive concussive shot in his career.
