Dustin Poirier disapproves of Mike Tyson’s upcoming boxing match against Jake Paul due to concerns over Tyson’s age and health, while also expressing interest in potentially transitioning to boxing himself.
Dustin Poirier won’t be enthusiastically cheering on Mike Tyson’s return to the ring. Were it up to Poirier, Tyson wouldn’t be anywhere near his upcoming Nov. 15 boxing match with Jake Paul.
The event is heavily promoted and set to air live on Netflix from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Originally, Tyson and Paul were supposed to fight on July 20, but health problems interfered with the 58-year-old Tyson’s preparation.
Poirier doesn’t understand why the bout hasn’t just been canceled outright. “I didn’t want that to happen,” Poirier said recently on The MMA Hour. “The guy is 60 years old.”
“I didn’t want that to happen. And I hope it doesn’t,” he added. “I don’t want to see Tyson go out there and get hurt.”
“He’s 60 years old and he’s fighting a young guy who is athletic and has the money to put the best people around him and build a camp. He’s dangerous.” Poirier clarified he has nothing against Paul.
“I went to the [Tyron] Woodley [fight],” he mentioned. In 11 pro boxing bouts, Paul has compiled a 10-1 record while drawing massive attention in the combat sports world.
Paul, 27, transitioned from being a YouTube star and social media influencer to pro boxer in 2020. He quickly made a name for himself by picking opponents with notable names but little boxing experience.
After a viral knockout of three-time NBA dunk champion Nate Robinson, Paul went on to defeat retired MMA standout Ben Askren. He also defeated former UFC champions Tyron Woodley and Anderson Silva.
Paul has won four straight fights now. His latest victory was a sixth-round knockout of BKFC star Mike Perry at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., this past Saturday.
Poirier has kept his eye on the bare-knuckle scene too—both MMA and boxing versions—and he’s willing to get in the ring without gloves if the price is right. “I think [bare-knuckle MMA is] a more pure way of fighting,” Poirier said.
“Chokes will be easier; grappling will be easier with no gloves.” However, he emphasized that getting paid would be crucial for him to participate.
“You’re going to get cut up 100 percent,” he noted. “No matter how you fight defensively, you’re going to cut probably.”
“I’ve been to a few in person,” he continued. “Watching it and being there up close are two different things.”
“It’s brutal up close,” Poirier described vividly. “You can hear the knuckles bouncing off the skull; it’s nasty.”
In his most recent fight, Poirier was defeated by lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 this past June. It was his third time vying for the undisputed title.
Since that loss, the 35-year-old has discussed retirement possibilities but hasn’t given any definitive indication of quitting yet. Like many veteran peers, Poirier would entertain moving into boxing if an opportunity arose.
“I would love to [box],” Poirier said excitedly. “That would be fun and exciting… Just a change of speeds.”
“Different training camp—just something different,” he mused aloud about switching disciplines after so long in MMA.
“I still love training camps and fighting,” he admitted candidly but noted that purely boxing would be less wearing on his body overall—no wrestling or jiu-jitsu involved!
“Running, swimming—that’s fun.” And when asked about potential opponents?
“I’d box Nate [Diaz],” Poirier concluded confidently with a smile.