Mike Tyson slaps Jake Paul in final face-off before Netflix fight

Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, aged 58, struck opponent Jake Paul, 27, during their final face-off on Thursday in anticipation of their contentious bout supported by Netflix.

Following the official weigh-in for the fight scheduled for Friday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Tyson delivered a sharp slap to Paul's cheek with his right hand.

Security personnel quickly intervened to separate the two fighters after the incident, escorting Tyson away from the scene.

Weighing in at 228.4 pounds while clad only in Versace briefs, Tyson made minimal comments before departing the stage.

"Talking's over," he stated before leaving alongside his entourage.

In response, Paul, the YouTuber-turned-boxer who weighed in at 227.2 pounds, claimed that he was not injured by Tyson's slap, which elicited gasps from the audience.

"I didn't even feel it - he's angry. He's an angry little elf... cute slap buddy," Paul remarked.

He concluded his statements with a profane vow to knock Tyson out, dramatically declaring into a microphone: "He must die."

Tyson is reportedly set to earn $20 million (£15.7 million) for the officially sanctioned fight in Texas, which will consist of eight two-minute rounds.

The event, which will be streamed live on Netflix, has sparked considerable debate within the boxing community, with many notable figures expressing disapproval regarding Tyson's return to the ring nearly 40 years after his professional debut and 19 years since his last officially sanctioned match.

SportsLigue