A new option has emerged up for Jake Paul’s fight if boxing legend Mike Tyson can’t take to the ring. Sakio Bika, a former world champion, is ready to take his place and fight Paul if the chance arises.
Tyson and Paul are set to have a huge fight this summer at the Dallas Cowboys stadium in Texas. But Tyson will be 58-years-old when the fight happens, and concerns have been raised over the age gap.
Paul has now been challenged by another older boxer, Sakio Bika, who is 44 and a former WBC and IBO super-middleweight world champion. He has expressed his interest in stepping in to fight Paul at “any weight” at short notice if necessary.
“I can fight Jake Paul at any weight he wants. At the moment, I am staying in shape and ready if the right offer comes my way,” Bika said to World Boxing News.
“I have reached the top of the sport, becoming a multiple-time world champion and winning the prestigious Contender series. I have nothing more to prove to anyone, but I would like to have one more big fight.”
British boxing fans might recognise Bika because he tried to win Joe Calzaghe’s world titles once, being beaten by the Welsh legend. Bika eventually retired with a record of 34 wins, 7 losses, and 3 draws.
He did come back to fight three years ago in Australia, where he took on Sam Soliman over eight rounds and won.
“If someone like Jake or his brother would really like to test himself against a recent world champion, I am always ready to fight. Mike Tyson is an all-time great boxer; he was a hero of mine growing up, and even though he looks in great shape, he is almost 60 years of age!
“If Jake is serious about fighting a former champion, look for someone a lot younger or active within the last decade,” he added.
Paul has put together a professional record of 9-1 since ditching his online fame for a boxing career and was pursuing a rematch against Tommy Fury before agreeing to fight Tyson. The social media sensation has never been dropped in a fight before and has boldly challenged Tyson to test his chin.
“I take shots. I think people are underestimating me being able to deal with his power, and that’s something that’s going to make it interesting. I am biting off a lot. This is definitely the toughest, most savage, lethal opponent regardless of age, because the power is the last thing to go,” Paul said on his BS podcast.
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