Mike Tyson, the former “baddest man on the planet,” pulled no punches Wednesday in response to criticism over his fight with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Texas next month.

Now 58, the former world heavyweight champion will step into the ring in Arlington on November 15 against a man 31 years his junior but with only 10 professional fights under his belt.

British promoter Eddie Hearn this month called the fight at the 80,000-seat AT&T Stadium “dangerous, irresponsible and disrespectful to boxing” and said he would not watch.

“I’m in awe of him. He’s one of my favorite fighters, one of the greatest of all time, but he’s a 58-year-old man,” Hearn told the BBC. “You just have to talk to him and look at him to know that this guy shouldn’t be in a ring anymore.”

“Everyone loves dollar bills, including me, but sometimes the green-eyed monster can make you make bad decisions and I think this is one of them.”

Tyson, who in 1997 was stripped of his license after sinking his teeth into Evander Holyfield’s ear, refused to bite.

“Well, that’s Eddie’s opinion, and that’s all I can say,” he told reporters on a video call from Las Vegas.

As for the fight, he had no doubt about who would win.

“I’m good. I’m just looking forward to the fight. I’m really looking forward to it. When you think about it, no matter how old I am, this guy is only 10 fights in,” Tyson said.

“If I see this fight at 10 percent of what I was, he’s only 10 fights. He can’t match that. And that’s sincere. If I’m at 10 percent, he can’t equal.”

‘A BEAUTIFUL PERSON I AM NOT’

Tyson, who made and spent several million during his career and filed for bankruptcy in 2003, denied money was his motivation and said he was just doing it for himself.

“This money from this fight will not change my lifestyle in any way,” he said.

“You know, I could use a dollar like everyone else, but it’s not for financial reasons. My life is not going to change, not a percentage after this fight. We can always live this way. And I’m I just do it because I want to test myself.

Tyson, who was convicted of rape in 1992 while maintaining his innocence, said things had changed for the better in his life, but that still didn’t make him a nice man.

“I’m trying to do the right thing, but I’m not a nice person. So anyone who thinks I’m a nice person is going to be disappointed. I’m just not,” he said. he declared. said.

“I’m not a nice person. I don’t make people happy, you know, for no reason. I just am who I am. I’m not trying to make friends, that’s basically what I’m saying. “.

Tyson, who is 50-6 with 44 knockouts, was one of the most feared heavyweights in history but hasn’t fought professionally since 2005. Paul is 9-1.

(Written by Alan Baldwin in London, edited by Andrew Cawthorne)