Those wondering why Mike Tyson agreed to fight Jake Paul can look to a 1998 interview for a potential justification.

One year after Tyson's opponent was born, and not long after he bit Evander Holyfield's ear off, the former heavyweight champion took part in a fascinating interview. At the time, he was banned from boxing and had been fined £2.34 million ($3m) before his licence was rescinded in October 1998.

Throughout the interview, he was pressed about what he had been getting up to while he was not allowed to compete. He would eventually go on to talk about some of the struggles he endured with his mental health at the time.

As he opened up, he also revealed that he finds it difficult to have no goals or projects on the horizon. This may explain his decision to take on the YouTuber.

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Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul
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Mike Tyson will face Jake Paul in the ring on November 15. The fight will air exclusively on Netflix, which is available for free with Sky's latest TV deal.

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In an interview with Playboy, Tyson was initially asked if he was ever plagued by self-doubt. He replied: "I don't know if it plagues me. What produces the self-doubt is boredom and idleness. When you're alone, when you're with your thoughts. In the midst of action I never have self-doubt."

His honest quotes may explain his decision to take up Paul's offer to fight him at the age of 58 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Tyson has already dismissed any suggestion that he is fighting the Ohio native for the financial package on offer.

Tyson came out of retirement to face Roy Jones Jr in what was billed as a "Lockdown Exhibition" due to the fact that it took place during the Coronavirus pandemic. Because it was an exhibition, a winner was not crowned.

However, his clash against Paul is a fully sanctioned, professional boxing match that will count against both fighters' records. The last time Tyson stepped into the ring for such a fight was 19 years ago when he lost to Kevin McBride in his final match in 2005.

Tyson currently boasts a record of 50 victories, 44 knockouts and six losses, three of which took place in the final four matches of his career. Meanwhile, Paul has a record of 10 victories and one loss, which came against Tommy Fury last year.
Mike Tyson and Jake Paul will face off in Texas this week (
Image:
Getty Images)

The 'Problem Child' has been regularly criticised for not fighting full-time boxers in his age and weight class, instead fighting the likes of ex-UFC stars Ben Askren, Anderson Silva, Nate Diaz and Tyron Woodley - the latter he beat twice.

Moreover, many have been concerned for the health of Tyson, who is taking a big risk by stepping into the ring at his age against an opponent who is more than 30 years his junior. Tyson and Paul were originally scheduled to fight on July 20. The bout had to be postponed, after Tyson suffered an ulcer flare-up a matter of days before they were set to enter the ring.