The former heavyweight world champion will take on the YouTuber in his first professional bout for almost 20 years on November 15 but the promoter feels that the boxing icon should not be stepping into the ring again at the age of 58.

Hearn told BBC Sport: "The reality is that 20 years ago when Mike Tyson retired from the sport he was shot, completely finished.It was actually sad to watch then, 20 years ago.

"I'm in awe of him - he's one of my favourite ever fighters, one of the greatest of all time - but he's a 58-year-old man.

"You only need to speak to him and look at him to know this guy should not be in a ring again."

Hearn will be in attendance on fight night in Texas as he supports Katie Taylor in her rematch with Amanda Serrano but insists that he will leave before the main event and suggested that Paul should be "embarrassed" about taking on an opponent more than three decades his senior.

The Matchroom chief said: "If I was Jake Paul I'd just feel a little bit embarrassed to be honest with you. It's a liberty.

"This is dangerous, irresponsible and, in my opinion, disrespectful to the sport of boxing."

The bout had originally due to take place in July before 'Iron Mike' suffered an ulcer flare-up that caused the event to be rescheduled and Hearn says that the pair should have recognised at that point that it was a "bad idea".

He said: "That was the moment they should have realised that this was actually a bad idea.

"Everybody loves a dollar bill, including me, but sometimes the green-eyed monster can make you some bad decisions - and I think this is one of them."