A boxing commentator has claimed Mike Tyson's slap on Jake Paul was 'not scripted' and 'not fake' as the pair prepare to do battle tonight.
The world is currently awaiting the bout between the two men and, on Thursday, the pair were involved in chaotic scenes at the weigh-in.
Paul appeared to stand on Tyson's foot, with the 58-year-old then responding by sensationally slapping his opponent.
It has added another intriguing subplot to the showdown, which has been criticised by many figures associated with the sport.
Some are expecting the showdown between the pair to be scripted. After all, the fight will be two minutes long - rather than the usual three, both men are wearing 14oz gloves and the 31-year age gap means certain safety measures have to be taken.
Longtime combat sports commentator, Ariel Helwani, has insisted Tyson's slap on Paul was legitimate, however, and wasn't part of some script to up the ante.
"I was there yesterday," he told the Dan Patrick Show.
"You know there's been a lot of talk about who this version of Mike Tyson is, what we're gonna see tonight, what this is all about.
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"You've been around for a long time, you've seen the many different versions of Mike.
"That was 1990's version of Mike. He may be 58 but that demon, that beast never goes away and when Jake went up to him like that and, as we found out later, stepped on his toe, that guy comes back. He cannot control it.
"That was not scripted. That was not fake. That was not any of that."
Helwani then dubbed the moment 'terrifying', adding: "And I'll tell you this, the look on his face as I was trying to interview him afterwards.
READ MORE: Jake Paul's mum launches astonishing attack on Mike Tyson after weigh-in slap
"I was standing as far away as possible like I was holding a piece of meat trying to feed a lion.
"I have never seen that look on a human being's face... That was terrifying stuff.
"This is 100 per cent a real fight. It's probably going to be the most watched combat sports event of all time by the time it's said and done.
"Mike Tyson doesn't do fake. He doesn't play fight."
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Tyson, meanwhile, insisted he slapped Paul due to the 27-year-old stepping on his toe.
He also dubbed his opponent a 'f***ing a**hole' and expressed a belief that the former YouTuber did it on purpose.
"I was in my shocks and he had on shoes," he told The Post.
“He stepped on my toe because he is a f***ing a**hole. I wanted to think it happened by accident.
"But now I think it may have happened on purpose.
"I was in a lot of pain. I had to reciprocate.”
Find Out More...
The world is currently awaiting the bout between the two men and, on Thursday, the pair were involved in chaotic scenes at the weigh-in.
Paul appeared to stand on Tyson's foot, with the 58-year-old then responding by sensationally slapping his opponent.
It has added another intriguing subplot to the showdown, which has been criticised by many figures associated with the sport.
Some are expecting the showdown between the pair to be scripted. After all, the fight will be two minutes long - rather than the usual three, both men are wearing 14oz gloves and the 31-year age gap means certain safety measures have to be taken.
Longtime combat sports commentator, Ariel Helwani, has insisted Tyson's slap on Paul was legitimate, however, and wasn't part of some script to up the ante.
"I was there yesterday," he told the Dan Patrick Show.
"You know there's been a lot of talk about who this version of Mike Tyson is, what we're gonna see tonight, what this is all about.
JUST IN: Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul referee already has history with YouTube star ahead of Friday night clash
"You've been around for a long time, you've seen the many different versions of Mike.
"That was 1990's version of Mike. He may be 58 but that demon, that beast never goes away and when Jake went up to him like that and, as we found out later, stepped on his toe, that guy comes back. He cannot control it.
"That was not scripted. That was not fake. That was not any of that."
Helwani then dubbed the moment 'terrifying', adding: "And I'll tell you this, the look on his face as I was trying to interview him afterwards.
READ MORE: Jake Paul's mum launches astonishing attack on Mike Tyson after weigh-in slap
"I was standing as far away as possible like I was holding a piece of meat trying to feed a lion.
"I have never seen that look on a human being's face... That was terrifying stuff.
"This is 100 per cent a real fight. It's probably going to be the most watched combat sports event of all time by the time it's said and done.
"Mike Tyson doesn't do fake. He doesn't play fight."
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Tyson, meanwhile, insisted he slapped Paul due to the 27-year-old stepping on his toe.
He also dubbed his opponent a 'f***ing a**hole' and expressed a belief that the former YouTuber did it on purpose.
"I was in my shocks and he had on shoes," he told The Post.
“He stepped on my toe because he is a f***ing a**hole. I wanted to think it happened by accident.
"But now I think it may have happened on purpose.
"I was in a lot of pain. I had to reciprocate.”
Find Out More...