Mike Tyson looks set to earn 44,000 times more to fight Jake Paul than he did on his professional debut.
The heavyweight legend is considered one of the greatest boxers of all-time in his prime, conquering the sport by becoming undisputed world champion, as well as later headlining huge events against the likes of Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield.
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Tyson stopped Mercedes in emphatic fashion on his pro debutCredit: Getty
During his heyday, Tyson earned around $430million (£337.5m) from the sport, but lost the large majority of his fortune.
That money certainly didn’t come from his opening professional appearance against Hector Mercedes in 1985, where he revealed he was left with just $100 [£80] after banking the remainder of his total $450 [£280] purse.
Tyson said in his autobiography Undisputed Truth: “I hardly made any money from those early fights.
“My first fight lost money for the promoter, but Jimmy [Jacobs] gave me $500.
“Then he took $50 from that to give to Kevin and he put $350 in the bank for me, so I walked away with $100.”
Tyson at the time was managed by Jacobs, with his pro debut failing to sell out the Plaza Convention Center in Albany, New York which left everyone involved suffering a financial loss.
Although he went on to lay down a serious statement as one of the brightest prospects, knocking out the journeyman in just a minute and fifty seconds.
It sparked a career of power punching supremacy, as he quickly went on to become the youngest ever heavyweight world champion aged 20, beating Trevor Berbick in November 1986 after picking up 27 wins.
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Tyson will reportedly pocket $20 million to face PaulCredit: Jake Paul – Instagram
Tyson made $1.5 million [£1.2 million] for that famous night but his earnings sky rocketed, with ‘Iron Mike’ raking in $30 million [£24 million] for his rematch with Frank Bruno, and two epic clashes with Evander Holyfield.
His career-high purse came for his defeat to Lennox Lewis in 2002, where he pocketed a mammoth $35 million [£28 million] for the famous clash under the lights in Las Vegas.
Tyson unfortunately did go on to file for bankruptcy in 2003, but he has since regained his wealth with business investments.
The 57-year-old will now reportedly earn $20 million for his upcoming showdown with Paul.
Paul and Tyson are set to duel in front of 80,000 fans in a battle that will be broadcast on Netflix, despite their 31-year age gap.
Justifiable health concerns have been raised given he will step in the ring at 58, but he has attempted to win the boxing world over with several clips of training footage.
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