- Tyson is returning to professional boxing after almost 20 years out of the sport
- He slapped Paul in Dallas at the weigh-in for supposedly ‘stepping on his toe’
- Incident led a host of Paddy Power users lumping money on a particular 8/1 bet
Bookmaker Paddy Power are fearing the biggest boxing payout in their 36-year history after a host of punters all lumped their money on the same market for the huge bout between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson.
‘Iron Mike’, undisputed world heavyweight champion between 1987 and 1990, is due to make a long-awaited return to the professional boxing fray in his fight against the YouTuber-turned-boxer in Arlington, Texas in the early hours of Saturday morning (GMT).
The bout was pushed back from its original date in July when a stomach ulcer flare-up while on a plane meant 58-year-old Tyson was advised to delay the contest.
After a fairly tame build-up, things exploded into life at the weigh-in on Thursday night after the former champion slapped ‘Problem Child’ Paul, 27, in the face, supposedly for ‘standing on his foot’.
While the pre-bout fireworks seemed like histrionics, thousands of eagle-eyed viewers have spotted a trend which they believe might play out in the fight and have decided to bet on it.
The sharp slap, which seemed to twist Paul’s neck, has led many to think Tyson will do the same in the actual bout with a host of betters now backing him to knock his opponent down in the very first round.
The market is believed to have been fairly quiet until the weigh-in chaos at which point fight fans fancying a flutter decided to make the most of the 8/1 and stick some cash on the selection.
To sweeten the deal even further, many of the backers are using a £1 free bet offer available at Paddy Power to mitigate the risk.
The bookmakers said: ‘Our traders couldn’t see anything but a Jake Paul win in the build-up – surprising that, given he’s half his age – and he’s still our massive favourite to win the contest itself.
‘But Grandad Mike’s slap appears to have given fans and our punters some hope that he’s still got the fire in the belly.
‘We are giving away a free bet for the fight and our customers are all putting it on the same bet, which is always a massive worry, while they’re hammering the same selection with their own money too.
‘Needless to say, I’ll be feeling like I’ve been slapped in the face myself if Jake does hit the canvas in the first round in Dallas.’
It is not clear exactly how many people have placed money on the first-round knockdown but it is believed that it would be comfortably the biggest boxing payout in the brand’s history.
After the dramatic weigh-in, Tyson’s former training partner-turned-politician Tom Patti revealed the reason why the 58-year-old lashed out at Paul.
‘Jake stepped on Mike’s foot, that prompted the reaction,’ Patti, one of Tyson’s longtime friends, told USA Today.
‘I was there and Mike just told me. My personal opinion (is) Jake shows enough disrespect that he starts crawling up to Mike and then pouncing in front of him… like some sort of lurching animal. Mike put him in his place.’
Footage appears to back up Patti’s comments with Paul, who was wearing trainers, seen landing on the top of Tyson’s right foot ahead of the confrontation.
Tyson, meanwhile, said: ‘I was in my socks and he had on shoes, he stepped on my toe because he is a f***ing a***hole. I was in a lot of pain. I had to reciprocate.’
Paddy Power’s legions of betters will be hoping the former heavyweight champion repeats the move in the opening round of Friday night’s contest.
