Mike Tyson tests Jimmy Kimmel’s confidence in betting on ex-champ

HOLLYWOOD — Jimmy Kimmel told Mike Tyson he’s thinking about betting ‘a large amount of money’ on the former heavyweight champion to beat Jake Paul in their fight scheduled for Nov. 15.

But the late-night talk show host expressed concern later Monday during Tyson’s appearance on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ as the famous boxer detailed his daily training regimen.

‘Are you training hard?’ Kimmel asked.

 Replied Tyson: ‘I’m training extremely hard.’

Kimmel: ‘How many hours a day?’

Tyson: ‘I start at 11.’

Kimmel: ’11 a.m.?’

Tyson: ‘Yeah, 11 in the morning.’

Kimmel: ‘Oh, no.’

Kimmel sounded more confident when Tyson explained he’s working out six hours a day. That is, until Tyson told him about a ‘small break.’

‘After I finish my boxing I get a massage for an hour,’ he said.

‘Oh, no,’ responded Kimmel, who also asked Tyson if he’s ‘smoking weed and stuff.’

Replied Tyson, ‘I have smoked, but not anytime (recently).’

When Kimmel asked if Tyson would be high during the fight, Tyson responded, ‘Oh, I’m going to be so high off life.’

But Kimmel pressed.

‘Will you be high on marijuana as well?’ he asked.

Said Tyson, ‘That’s a possibility too. It is.’

‘See, now my bet’s getting lower as we talk,’ Kimmel said, drawing laughter from the studio audience.

But the late-night talk show host looked more encouraged as Tyson’s appearance came to an end.

‘Ok,’ Kimmel said, ‘you’re going to beat this kid, Jake Paul.’

Replied Tyson, ‘Very badly.’

The studio erupted with applause.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.