Paul tries to goad Tyson at baffling news conference

Mike Tyson spoke conscionable a fewer words, Jake Paul made crude references and Briton Tony Bellew was escorted retired of the arena by information astatine a baffling quality league successful Texas.

Former satellite heavyweight champion Tyson, 58, volition look YouTuber-turned-fighter Paul, 27, astatine Dallas' AT&T Stadium connected Friday.

Tyson has not fought arsenic a nonrecreational successful 19 years and appeared disinterested arsenic Paul dominated the microphone.

Paul tried to goad Tyson by asking him astir comments made successful a documentary wherever the erstwhile champion described himself arsenic "natural calved killer".

Tyson refused to play ball. "That's what I said," helium replied.

Perhaps the astir bizarre infinitesimal astatine Wednesday's lawsuit astatine the Toyota Music Factory successful Irving came erstwhile Liverpool's Bellew inaudibly shouted into a microphone – which helium had brought on - from the property area.

The chaos was rather fitting for an lawsuit criticised by galore boxing purists, but it was fixed immoderate credibility by the beingness of pound-for-pound greats Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano.

Light-welterweight champion Taylor edged her rival to triumph by divided determination successful an all-time classical successful 2022.

The brace – who volition vie for the undisputed rubric successful the main enactment - conducted themselves appropriately to physique up to the richest combat successful pistillate boxing.

About 70,000 fans are expected connected Friday successful a combat which volition beryllium streamed unrecorded connected Netflix, and a steadfast assemblage of much than 1,000 – mostly Tyson fans - attended the quality conference.

There were jeers for Ohio's Paul, who wore a diamond spiked receptor screen and referenced the infamous rubric combat wherever Tyson spot a chunk retired of Evander Holyfield's receptor successful 1997.

When Paul called his opponent's comments "cute", Tyson was either not listening oregon chose to disregard him.

One of the astir arguable and volatile figures successful sporting past having been undisputed champion and served 3 years successful situation for rape, Tyson became animated erstwhile a newsman asked him astir perchance being defeated by Paul.

"I americium not going to lose, did you perceive what I said?" helium shouted.

BBC Sport caught up with erstwhile cruiserweight champion Bellew arsenic helium was ushered retired by a fewer men dressed successful black.

Bellew, successful what appeared to beryllium a stunt for a betting company, was joined by an older man.

"He's the champion of the attraction home. [Jake] is warring a gramps truthful wherefore not combat a great-grandfather who has had 2 caller hips and is 106," helium said.

After Bellew's ejection, the quality league rapidly turned into a one-man show.

Paul – who has chiefly fought ex-UFC stars successful an 11-bout vocation – cursed astatine a writer who asked him erstwhile helium would look "a existent fighter".

Promoter Eddie Hearn, who said helium plans to leave earlier the main event, was besides successful the firing enactment with Paul calling him a "clout chaser".

All fighters connected the undercard were asked to foretell the result of Tyson-Paul. An offended Paul approached each those who went against him and asked them however overmuch they wanted to bet.

The scope went from Paul's purse – rumoured to beryllium $40m (£31m) - to $20.

Rather surprisingly, the obligatory face-to-face betwixt Tyson and Paul ended without immoderate drama, but determination was already capable of that successful the hr and fractional that preceded it.