The Staples Center sat empty under Covid restrictions, echoes bouncing off the vacant seats as middle-aged legends Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. prepared to meet in an exhibition streamed to more than 1.6 million pay-per-view spectators around the world.

Jake Paul is getting his respect from the combat sports community ahead of his boxing match against Anthony Joshua.

Jake Paul claims Tommy Fury turned down a TON of money to meet him in the boxing ring again ... but TNT insists that's not the full story. Paul sounded off on social media Tuesday morning ... saying while plenty of fighters agreed to step in for Gervonta Davis, one person in particular didn't.