Rosie Perez is a lifelong boxing fan. Nonetheless, she retains her love of the game a secret as a result of many individuals discover it “too barbaric”. However a couple of years in the past, she began commenting on Twitter whereas watching video games.
Quick ahead to right now. Perez, nicknamed the “First Girl of Boxing,” was one of many official commentators for Friday night time’s Mike Tyson-Jake Paul battle in Dallas and stay on Netflix.
“It is going to be a enjoyable recreation,” Perez informed me Thursday. “Jake Paul is in his 20s and Mike Tyson is 58. Thirty years outdated. It is loopy.
Like many, Perez wasn’t excited when Paul started his profession. “When he first got here into the ring, everybody hated him, together with myself,” she stated. “But it surely’s not hate, it is extra concern. It is an actual sport. You do not field. Folks can get harm. Folks lose their lives within the ring, in order that’s why I am towards him. However he Simply saved going. He saved going.
Perez did not make any predictions about who would win as a result of she believes everybody has an equal likelihood. “The way in which Mike seems now, everybody says it is a 50/50 likelihood,” she stated. “Earlier than they’d say, ‘Jake Paul has made it as a result of he is youthful and he actually has the knockout skill.'” He knocked out about 5 opponents — however none of them had been Mike Tyson.
The next Q&A has been edited for size and readability.
How nervous are you about Mike or Jack being severely injured?
I am at all times nervous about each boxing match as a result of one punch can change a battle. Sure, one can knock somebody out unexpectedly. So I am nervous. Not solely do I care about Tyson, I care about Jake Paul, however I care extra about Tyson due to his age.
What are your favourite boxing films?
The Tougher They Fall starring Humphrey Bogart as a result of it was the primary boxing film I noticed that handled the enterprise of boxing and it broke my coronary heart as a result of I had no concept how soiled it was He was soiled and had the benefit of not realizing how the mob handled him at the moment. Then there’s the primary Rocky, and on prime of that’s Raging Bull. What De Niro did with the character, his understanding of the preventing recreation, it is simply loopy. Martin Scorsese’s cinematography and path are insane. I used to be watching this film for the primary time and I knew what the result was going to be as a result of I knew the battle, however I used to be nonetheless on the sting of my seat.
Jake Paul is a staunch supporter of Donald Trump. I might love to listen to your response to this – or do you assume sports activities and politics should not combine?
After I field, I by no means discuss politics. Donald Trump confirmed up at UFC occasions, he confirmed up at boxing matches, and earlier than he destroyed Atlantic Metropolis, he was within the boxing enterprise. However what I’ve discovered through the years is, as a result of I am very, very outspoken, once I’m in boxing, I do not discuss it. That stated, I hate giving [Trump] Credit score. It is a genius transfer for Trump to place himself within the sports activities world as a result of it is a tribal factor, proper? If you consider it, we’ve all these completely different nationalities. While you go to a sporting occasion, everyone seems to be on the identical tribe. Even in case you help the opposing group, you are all there for a similar purpose. This can be a enormous alternative for the American individuals. As for Jake Paul, my opinion of him as a businessman has modified due to his help for ladies’s boxing. Ladies’s boxing has lengthy been ignored. They had been by no means paid the identical as males. They nonetheless get slapped within the face similar to males. They’re nonetheless eradicated like males, however they do not get the identical cash. If you are going to slap me within the face, you higher pay me as a lot as you paid this man. They maintain saying, “Nobody needs to see girls’s boxing. Nobody likes girls preventing. The primary individual to show that mistaken was Dana White, the second individual to show it mistaken was Jake Paul ). He had a match with Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor and he stated, “I’ll promote Madison Sq. Backyard and I’ll pay these girls. “He did. After the battle, Amanda stated she may lastly afford a home.
I do know you do not like mixing sports activities and politics, however I do wish to ask you the way it feels after the election?
There are such a lot of Democrats who’re shocked, they usually maintain asking me, “Why aren’t you shocked?” I say, “I am not damaged. I am simply nervous. I am nervous in regards to the nation.” I say, “I have been telling you since day one.” You guys, though I am campaigning for her – as a result of I feel we’ve to do every part we are able to to ensure she wins extra to ensure he does not get into hassle once more.” However I have been telling the marketing campaign since day one, “The issue is the financial system, silly.” Guess what? It bit us within the butt and it was a tough capsule to swallow. However we’ve to take our medication, get off the fucking canvas, get again to coaching and maintain preventing. It was like they had been having a pity celebration. I am like, “What the hell is mistaken with you guys? We have been right here earlier than. We have misplaced earlier than. You cried all night time and then you definitely handed. You are the primary individual I’ve ever stated that to as a result of Nobody needs me to get this message out. I inform individuals on a regular basis: “I stay in the true world. “I do know the far proper accuses me of being elitist as a result of I am within the leisure trade, and I hit them proper again. I say, ‘Hear, asshole, I grew up poor. I am the American dream. I am damaged. Due to the colour of my pores and skin, Nationality and race, I get rejected on a regular basis. I battle for my profession every single day, so screw it consider it or not, I am gentler than you assume as a result of I stay in the true world however there’s loads. Republicans will not be Trump supporters and we’ve to cease hating them. We now have to begin listening to what they’re attempting to inform us they need from the federal government.
As you stated, Trump likes to battle. If he confirmed up at Tyson vs. Paul, would you shake his hand?
No, however I am not going to be impolite to him as a result of he’ll be our subsequent president. I do not wish to be disrespectful to him in any method, however I do not know if I may sincerely shake that man’s hand. However like I stated, boxing and politics should not combine. I feel he would possibly present up as a result of it could be a really good transfer if he did, and never with out purpose.
