Tyson will fight Jake Paul on November 15 in Texas

One of Iron Mike Tyson‘s close friends, Jeff Fenech, sends a clear warning to Jake Paul that the former-undisputed heavyweight champion of the world is in better shape than towards the end of his professional career some 20 years ago.

Jeff Fenech, who trained the 58-year-old at the end of his career, was there when the boxing great suffered an unceremonious end to a blistering career when he was stopped by Kevin McBride in 2005.

Mike Tyson reappears with a scary video to Jake Paul

But now, as he gears up for his first professional bout in two decades, the boxing legend is looking good and that’s a scary thing for anyone to handle as Fenech warns Paul about what he’s getting into.

“If it was my decision,” said Fenech to Mirror Fighting. “I’d much prefer him to not fight at all, but he’s going to fight. I trained him for his final couple of fights [in the mid-2000s] and he seems more switched on now than he did then.”

Tyson will step into the ring on November 15 at the AT&T Stadium in Texas, nearby to Dallas, in a bout that will be streamed by Netflix after being rearranged from July 20 for health concerns with Tyson, who suffered an ulcer flare up.

Fenech’s health battle

Fenech, known as the “Marrickville Mauler” is very impressive in his own right as a former world champion in three weight classes: bantamweight, super bantamweight, and featherweight.

Fenech’s aggressive fighting style and remarkable skill earned him international acclaim. He competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics before turning professional, amassing a record of 29 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw.

Post-retirement, Fenech has worked as a boxing trainer and commentator. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2002, solidifying his legacy as one of Australia’s greatest boxers.

But the ex-pro, now 60, revealed he almost died recently after sustaining a serious heart problem caused by an infection of one of the valves, needing emergency surgery to stay alive after he also battled through kidney and lung problems too.

“My heart’s been put back together because I just about died a couple of months ago,” Fenech told the Mirror Fighting. “I had a really bad infection in my valve. I had a massive clot on my calf, my left kidney had stopped working.

“I also had issues with my lungs. They drained seven-and-a-half litres of fluid off my lungs. The infection fell downwards rather than upwards. Otherwise, it could have got into my brain.

“Four years ago, I went through exactly the same surgery but this time it was with my leg as well, so it was worse. I wouldn’t wish this upon anybody. It’s not just the pain I went through, it’s what you put your family through, it was pretty horrific. So, it’s been pretty tough, but I’m OK and happy. I’m hoping to start training soon.”