Jutta Leerdam, Jake Paul’s girlfriend and a celebrated speedskater, has acknowledged that Mike Tyson still possesses enough knockout power to take down her boyfriend in the ring.
Jake Paul, also known as ‘The Problem Child’, is gearing up for a major showdown against the legendary Tyson on November 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The highly anticipated fight will be streamed live on Netflix, marking a historic event for both fighters.
Paul and Tyson will face off in Texas, and while Paul has been steadily improving as a boxer, Leerdam is well aware of the risks involved in taking on such an iconic and powerful opponent.
Leerdam, who has achieved great success in her sport by winning six gold medals across the World Sprint Championships and World Single Distances Championships, as well as earning an Olympic silver medal in the 1,000m event at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, knows the importance of dedication and skill. But even with Paul’s rapid progress in the ring, she recognizes that Tyson’s legendary power could be a game-changer.
“The progression Jake has made is not normal,” Leerdam told the Hollywood Reporter. “Other athletes improve by a few percentage points each year, if at all. But Jake makes huge strides every year, and I trust in his skills. I’m really proud of him. However, Mike Tyson could throw one punch harder than he’s ever thrown, and it would be lights out for Jake.”
Paul, who has set an ambitious goal of challenging for a cruiserweight world title by 2025, will face one of his toughest tests yet in Tyson. Despite his lofty aspirations, Paul has yet to face a ranked professional boxer. However, his dedication to the sport and consistent improvement have kept fans and critics intrigued.
While Paul typically competes as a cruiserweight (200 lbs), he will take on Tyson in the heavyweight division, adding another layer of difficulty to the fight. Tyson is expected to weigh in at around 235 lbs, with Paul coming in about 15 lbs lighter at 220 lbs.
Since his boxing debut in January 2020, Paul has fought 11 times and steadily upped the level of competition in each bout. This year alone, he has already claimed victories over former Golden Gloves champion Ryan Bourland and ex-UFC middleweight Mike Perry. Other notable names on Paul’s resume include UFC stars Tyron Woodley and Anderson Silva, as well as Nate Diaz.
Despite these wins, Paul’s only loss came by split decision against Tommy Fury, the half-brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. Even with this blemish on his record, Paul remains focused on his goal, but Leerdam’s cautious optimism reflects the uncertainty of facing a fighter with Tyson’s knockout ability.
As Paul and Tyson prepare to go head-to-head, all eyes will be on the fight to see if Paul’s rising career can withstand the power of ‘Iron Mike.’