- Jake Paul’s manager Nakisa Bidarian fired back at comments from Eddie Hearn
- The Matchroom chairman called Jake Paul’s clash with Mike Tyson ‘really sad’
Jake Paul’s manager Nakisa Bidarian has insisted Eddie Hearn‘s recent criticism of Paul’s upcoming fight with Mike Tyson is ‘ironic’.
Paul shocked the combat sports world on Thursday when he announced he would face the former heavyweight champion in July, with the bout set to be broadcast live to a worldwide audience on Netflix.
The event is set to take place at the 80,000-capacity AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys.
However, the announcement was not met with universal praise, with many questioning Paul’s decision to face Tyson, who will be 58-years-old when the pair meet inside the ring.
Chief among those to express their reservations with the matchup was Matchroom chairman Hearn, who told Mail Sport that the clash was ‘really sad’ on account of Tyson’s age.
Jake Paul’s manager Nakisa Bidarian hit back at Eddie Hearn’s criticism of Paul’s upcoming clash with Mike Tyson
Hearn explained he felt it is ‘really sad’ that Tyson will be returning to face the former YouTuber
The pair will face off inside the ring on July 20, one month after the former heavyweight champion’s 58th birthday
‘For me it’s really sad because Mike Tyson was one of my idols growing up, and to see him fighting at 57, 58… but I also understand that a lot of people are going to tune in and watch,’ Hearn told Mail Sport.
‘It’s an entertainment event, Netflix, great to see them involved in boxing. I think it will do really well. But it’s just not really one for me.’
‘I don’t think you should be fighting at 57 years old. But also the guy was one of the greatest ever fighters,’ Hearn continued.
‘Why do you want to go in at five per cent of what you were and lose to a guy like Jake Paul?
‘He shouldn’t have to do that, but the world is the world we live in.’
Bidarian took exception to these comments, insisting it was ‘hypocritical’ of Hearn to criticise the fight given that he is currently working on a prospective bout between Conor Benn and 45-year-old Manny Pacquiao.
‘It’s incredibly ironic and, as usual, hypocritical of Eddie Hearn to talk negatively about another event.’ Bidarian said, per Michael Benson.
‘Eddie was standing between Manny Pacquiao, a very small-statured 45-year-old man, and his next opponent, a 27-year-old Matchroom fighter who has had issues getting licensed in the UK to box again.
‘It’s incredibly sad. He spends more time speaking about other people’s business than he does tending his own.’
The fight will mark Tyson’s return to the ring nearly four years after his eight-round exhibition with Roy Jones Jr in 2020.
Tyson’s final professional contest came in 2005, where he was defeated by Irishman Kevin McBride, retiring on his stool after six rounds to end his career with a record of 50 wins and 5 losses.