Clay Collard would appear to hold the same sentiments many of us do when it comes to the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul boxing spectacle scheduled for later this year.
Collard (24-12, 1NC), who kicks off his 2024 PFL season at PFL 2 this Friday in Las Vegas in a banger of a match-up with Patricky Pitbull, told Cageside Press in a recent exclusive interview that he felt everybody was pulling for an “Iron” Mike knockout.
“Man I think everybody would love to see Mike Tyson knock him out,” admitted Collard, before noting Tyson’s age. “But the guy is almost 60 now. And I’m not taking anything away from him, he’s a dangerous man. It’s Mike Tyson.”
Still, as Collard sees it, “Jake Paul’s making money doing this type of sh*t. I don’t really care either way. I would like to fight the guy one day, just to do it for all the mixed martial arts guys, and go in there and beat him up at his own game, because I think I would.”
“I don’t really care one way or the other. Good for him, he’s making money, he’s doing his thing.”
The only problem with Collard fighting Jake Paul is that at 31, he’s far younger than Paul’s usual age bracket for opponents. Anderson Silva was in his late 40s. Tyson will be 58 when they fight. Tyron Woodley and Ben Askren were both pushing 40. Plus, Collard has actual experience as a boxer.
“For real. I’m a little too young, I’m in my prime, I’m at the top of my career. Maybe when I’m about to retire he’ll fight me,” joked Collard.
It’s back-to-back Bellator vets for Clay Collard as he kicks off his 2024 regular season. Earlier this year, at the PFL vs. Bellator Champions event, Collard found himself submitted by A.J. McKee. Now it’s on to Pitbull, but for Collard, it’s all about getting back in the win column after losing to McKee, and Olivier Aubin-Mercier in last year’s PFL lightweight finale.
“I’m just excited to get in there, and like I said earlier, shake off these couple of losses. It didn’t matter who they were giving me,” stated Collard when asked about the match-up. “The fact that is a guy who, I think they posted a little video of, the Knockout King returns. Like make my day, baby. Make my day.”
Watch our full interview with 2024 PFL 2’s Clay Collard above.
