Mike Tyson will face Jake Paul in a professional bout – sparking fears over the legendary fighter’s return to the ring.

Tyson will make a shock comeback against YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul on July 20, in a fight that will surprisingly take place under sanctioned professional rules.

Tyson’s fight with Paul this summer could tarnish his pro record if he losesCredit: Jake Paul – Instagram
There is a record-breaking 31-year age gap between the pair, with ‘Iron Mike’ set to step back in the ring aged 58, which has seen him receive medical warnings from doctors.

British boxing star Richard Riakporhe is among those in the sport concerned about what could happen.

The ‘Midnight Train’ – who will face Chris Billam-Smith in a cruiserweight world title tilt on June 15 – believes it could be a sad result for Tyson if he is beaten by Paul.

“He is definitely in danger and I think it is sad to see as a boxing fan,” Riakporhe told talkSPORT.com.

“I fight and I don’t want to see a fellow boxer at that age, at 58, I just think he has had his time.

“I think he is done and should stay that way, but people will do what they want to do at the end of the day.

“I feel like it is just dangerous, and the idea of a YouTube boxer beating Mike Tyson is not a nice feeling for me.

“He could have that on his record and it is not nice as a boxing fan because we see Mike Tyson as a legend.”

Boxing promoter Frank Warren also believes it is ‘ridiculous’ that Tyson and Paul will fight under pro rules.

“I’m a big fan of Jake Paul as a promoter and his business partner Nakissa [Bidarian],” he said, speaking on talkSPORT.

“They’re very smart operators and they obviously see this is fight will generate public interest and money.

“But let’s get it right, Mike Tyson is 58 years of age and he shouldn’t be fighting. It’s as simple as that.

“If it was an exhibition, you’d get half away with that, but the fact that Texas have licenced the 58-year-old to fight… What does anybody need to say about that? Anyone with an ounce of brains knows that it is ridiculous.

“Let’s get it right, you can be on a motorway stuck in a traffic jam and you get to the end of it and all it is is people who have stopped to look at a crash and that’s what this is.”

Tyson’s career as a professional ended in 2005 after three defeats in his last four fights, including against Kevin McBride in his final fight.

The heavyweight icon has fought just once since then in an exhibition with Roy Jones Jr in 2020, a more evenly matched clash than in his upcoming exploit.

Despite concerns, Tyson has been training and has showed off trademark bursts of power on the pads with trainer Rafael Cordeiro.

Fans have reacted in a mixed mindset to his footage, with some suggesting the pair should cancel the fight altogether.

Tyson and Paul are set to earn big for the event which will be set in front of 80,000 fans, a key motivation for their participation.

But in a bizarre pre-fight admission, Tyson claimed he remains ‘scared to death’ every time he competes including again this summer.

“I have a weird personality – I don’t think it’s weird though. Whatever I’m afraid to do, I do it. That’s how it is,” Tyson told Fox News.

“I was afraid of the Roy [Jones] fight. I was 100 pounds overweight, I was however old, 54, 53, and I said ‘Let’s do it.’

“Anything I’m afraid of, I confront it. That’s my personality. Right now, I’m scared to death.

“As the fight gets closer, the less nervous I become because it’s reality, and in reality, I’m invincible.”