Abe how do you rate Paul as a fighter? Is he pro level competitor? What is his comparison?
Tyson isn’t old Holyfield, I know the RJJ wasn’t a competitive fight by any stretch of the imagination but Mike can still take a shot. Do you think Paul will knock him out, or out point him?
I rate Paul similar to how I rated JC Chavez Jr. when he first started. Neither guy had amateur backgrounds to speak of so their 1st couple years as pros had to be taken slowly. Jake has solid boxing skills and he's a legit professional boxer. He has an athletic background, takes boxing very seriously and is a notorious gym rat/hard worker. I think he can be a top 20 guy @ cruiserweight and that he will sneak up on someone at some point in the top 10-15. Chavez Jr. won a recognized middleweight belt and has a very solid win over formidable Andy Lee. I think if Jake continues to progress and take the sport seriously, with the right match making, grabbing an alphabet belt is the ceiling.
How do we know he isn't old Holyfield? Because he couldn't or wouldn't knock out Roy Jones who since 2004 gets knocked out by everyone?
My prediction is that this fight ends up not happening or becomes a clown fight with giant gloves, head gear or some other gimmick. It's a travesty if Texas or anyone else sanctions it. That being said, I think Jake plays it very safe for 2 rounds and starts putting it on Tyson in round 3. He won't knock Tyson out cold but I say he stops him anytime from the 8th round on.
Mike is and always has been the ultimate front runner. He takes his beatings like a man but unlike Holyfield who never stopped trying to win fights, Mike was happy to take a beating and survive. He lacked heart in that sense.
