Boxing coach Rafael Cordeiro is preparing Mike Tyson for a boxing match against Jake Paul on July 20, predicting a technical match and aiming to keep Paul in “panic” throughout the fight.
Mike Tyson and Jake Paul are set to duke it out in the boxing ring come July 20. Coach Rafael Cordeiro can’t wait to prep the boxing legend for the showdown.
Cordeiro’s a big name in the MMA world. He made his mark as a Muay Thai coach at Chute Boxe, then went on to open Kings MMA in California. He reckons Paul’s in for a surprise at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
“This ain’t gonna be a bloodbath,” Cordeiro told MMA Fighting. “It’s gonna be a technical fight. We’ve got a kid on the other side who can box and ain’t scared.”
Mike Tyson’s got a punch that can knock a horse off its feet. “It’s impossible for Jake not to feel Mike’s fists,” Cordeiro said. “That’s when we’ll get a sense of how the fight’s gonna play out. It’s gonna be something to watch.”
Paul’s got a 9-1 professional boxing record, with six knockouts to his name. Tyson will be 58 when he steps into the ring, but Cordeiro’s confident that Paul’s gonna be in “panic mode” when the punches start landing.
“Panic – that’s what he’ll do,” Cordeiro chuckled. “Our goal? Keep Jake panicking the whole fight. Or at least as long as he can handle it.”
Cordeiro’s got respect for Paul’s boxing career. “This kid ain’t a YouTuber anymore. He’s a serious boxer,” he said. “He deserves respect from the combat sports community.”
Paul’s been fighting great champions and building a decent career, not just financially, but in terms of entertainment. “On the other side, we’ve got Tyson, who’s got generations of fans behind him,” Cordeiro added.
According to Cordeiro, Tyson vs. Paul is an official boxing match. Tyson’s last fight, a clash with Roy Jones Jr. in 2020, was declared an exhibition by the California State Athletic Commission. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) told MMA Fighting that no decision has been made on the July 20 bout. “We haven’t received any proposed cards and don’t have any details about what they’re planning. All bouts are subject to review and approval by TDLR.”
“Unlike the first camp, Tyson won’t be coming off 15 years away from the ring,” Cordeiro said. “He’s been training ever since. That makes a difference. We’ve still got four months till the fight. He’ll be ready.”
“There’s the age difference, and there’s the fact that Paul’s been competing more often,” he continued. “But he’s up against someone with a ton of experience. Mike doesn’t train for some time, and when he comes back, the explosiveness, the movement, it’s like he never stopped. It’s not about who hits the hardest, it’s about technique. Jake’s got good boxing. He’s winning fights, and his loss was a split decision to a legit boxer, not an MMA champ. That shows the kid knows how to box.”
Tyson and Cordeiro shared a video a few days after the bout was announced. It showed Tyson hitting pads on his first day of camp. Cordeiro said Tyson’s in great shape. He also shared a 2023 video that showed Tyson using crutches to walk. But he said it’s no cause for alarm.
“Mike’s had back pain since he was a kid,” Cordeiro said. “We’re always looking after his back in training. He moves a lot to the side, and that takes a toll. And since he travels a lot, he was using the crutches to help him stand straight after long flights.”