In a dramatic and unexpected turn of events, Jake Paul’s private jet was struck by lightning as he flew home from his New York press conference, where he had promoted his upcoming fight with boxing legend Mike Tyson. The YouTuber-turned-boxer shared a harrowing video of the incident, showing his $38 million plane shaking violently as electrical discharges crackled outside.
The highly anticipated exhibition bout, scheduled for July 20 at the 80,000-seat AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, will be streamed live on Netflix. As the plane was buffeted by the storm, Paul, surrounded by friends and holding his golden retriever, Thor, decided to address not God but an ancient Greek deity.
“We woke up the gods of war and (there is) lightning on the plane, brother,” Paul said in an Instagram video, just before a fierce crackle shook the jet. “Oh s***! Zeus, I love you brother,” he added, clasping his hands in a prayer gesture.
Despite the terrifying experience, Paul safely made it back to firm ground and later shared the video, captioning it, “The way home from the presser was interesting,” complete with a laughing face emoji to reflect his carefree attitude. One fan humorously commented that Paul was trying to escape fighting Tyson, saying, “My guy trying to fake his death so he doesn’t need to fight.”
Another fan compared the lightning strike to the legendary power of Mike Tyson, noting, “First hit from Mike Tyson.”
The upcoming fight between the 57-year-old Tyson and the 27-year-old Paul has sparked a lot of controversy and differing opinions. Boxing legend Roy Jones Jr., who faced Tyson in a £63 million fight billed as the ‘Lockdown Knockdown’ in 2020, has issued a warning about Tyson’s enduring power.
“Mike Tyson is still the strongest puncher that I’ve ever been in the ring with,” Jones Jr. told Shane Mosley. “The first time he hit me in the chest, it felt like a mule had kicked me in the chest.”
As the fight date approaches, the excitement and tension continue to build. Fans and critics alike are eager to see how this clash between the seasoned boxing icon and the ambitious YouTuber-turned-boxer will unfold, especially after such an electrifying prelude.
