Rafael Cordeiro, who has been training Mike Tyson for four years, expects Tyson to be in peak condition for his July 20 fight against Jake Paul, despite concerns about Tyson’s age.
Rafael Cordeiro, the founder of Kings MMA and former Chute Boxe head coach, has been training Mike Tyson for four years. He’s well aware that the foam and leather padding he holds isn’t enough to shield him from Tyson’s power.
“After the first session, my shoulder was wrecked,” Cordeiro confessed on The MMA Hour. He couldn’t hold mitts for his gym boys for about half a year. His right shoulder was a mess, forcing him to take a break and undergo physical therapy.
He’s expecting another doctor’s visit post-July 20. That’s when Tyson is set to face Jake Paul at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Cordeiro sees this as the cost of a training camp that kicked off when comeback fight talks began. The opponent? One of the most controversial figures in combat sports.
As Tyson closes in, head bobbing side to side before launching a barrage of punches, Cordeiro’s life seems to flash before his eyes. Tyson will be 58 on June 30. But age, Cordeiro insists, is just a number.
“Holding mitts for Mike is a whole different ball game,” he says. “His reactions…he closes the gap in a split second. If I don’t step back, I’m toast. I have to move.”
Recent videos of Tyson’s training sessions have gone viral, racking up millions of views. Cordeiro reveals that Tyson’s team is working tirelessly to get him in top shape for the July 20 fight. He’s expecting a performance that’ll surpass Tyson’s exhibition match with Roy Jones Jr. four years ago.
There’s been a lot of chatter about the wisdom of pitting a 58-year-old against a fighter 31 years his junior, YouTuber or not. Cordeiro dismisses these concerns as superficial anxiety that undermines Tyson’s experience.
“People shouldn’t worry,” he says. “We’re talking about a two-time champ. He didn’t have 20 fights in two years for nothing. He knows his stuff. He’s faced the best. When he steps into the ring, he knows what to do. This fight is no different.”
“He’s training hard every day to knock Jake out. That’s just his style. No one needs to teach Mike Tyson how to fight. He’ll prove in July that he’s still got it. … Mike will step into the ring as the old Mike Tyson, aiming to knock Jake out from start to finish.”
Cordeiro isn’t certain whether Tyson’s second fight in 19 years will count on his permanent boxing record. He’s also unsure about the round durations and other details that could significantly impact both fighters. But one thing’s for sure: Tyson is taking Paul very seriously.
“He’s already in shape,” Cordeiro says of Tyson. “We’ve started doing rounds in training. It’s amazing to see him hit the mitts. He’s a beast. … The only guarantee I can give: Mike will land a punch on Jake. It’ll be impossible for Mike not to hit Jake. Let’s see how Jake handles that.”
Cordeiro and Tyson respect Paul and don’t belittle his boxing efforts because of his YouTube past. The veteran coach has worked with many fighters, but Tyson’s intensity takes him back to the days when the ex-champ was the most feared man in the world.
Fans can see Tyson’s power on video. Cordeiro, however, experiences it firsthand when Tyson’s glove meets his pad.
“First-round KO,” Cordeiro predicts for the fight. “This is Mike Tyson. This is how he fights.”