Mike Tyson is not alone in training at his gym as he prepares for his upcoming fight.

For his match against Jake Paul on November 15, Tyson has brought back three sparring partners who previously assisted him during his 2020 exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr., according to a source who asked to remain unnamed due to the sensitivity of the topic.

The sparring team includes heavyweights Mike Russell and Jett Blackwell, along with super welterweight Ronald Cruz. At the age of 58, Tyson is considerably older than all of his sparring partners, who are in their 30s.

Recent videos on social media feature Russell practicing shadow boxing at Tyson’s gym and Blackwell hitting the heavy bag at their training facility in the Las Vegas area.

Tyson mentioned in an interview that he is sparring around six to seven rounds each session. This was similar to his preparation for the Jones fight, as noted by Cruz’s former trainer, Edgar Ponce. According to Ponce, Tyson did sparring rounds with the two heavyweights and concluded with Cruz, who last weighed in at 152 pounds.

“He used Cruz at the end of his sessions when he was fatigued, showing that he was still quick,’’ Ponce explained. “He utilized each of them for various purposes.”

Tyson and his training team did not respond to interview requests from Tyson’s publicist, and the sparring partners were required to sign waivers as per the source familiar with the arrangements.

Here’s a closer look at Tyson’s three sparring partners:

Mike Russell, 32, Heavyweight

At 6 feet 1 inch, Russell fights in both the heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions (190 pounds). He served as a sparring partner for Nate Diaz during Diaz’s preparation for his fight against Paul last year.

Diaz lost that match by unanimous decision in August 2023 and praised Russell during the post-fight press conference. Russell is based in northern California.

“(Paul) strikes hard and quickly, but it’s nothing new to me,’’ said Diaz. “…Training with Mike Russell taught me a lot, and he’s a solid fighter.’’

In a 2020 interview, Russell stated that he is known for his speed, although he also displayed knockout power in his debut, achieving a first-round knockout victory. His professional record stands at 5-1 with three knockouts.

Jett Blackwell, 23, Heavyweight

At just 19, Blackwell had already sparred with Tyson before the Jones exhibition and was still competing as an amateur. Now, he holds a record of 3-0-1 as a professional and has a fight scheduled for November 16, a day after Tyson’s bout with Paul.

“He’s a big heavyweight but he’s light on his feet, and his punches are quick,” said his trainer Frank Alemore, noting that Blackwell has been training with Tyson for a month.

Blackwell, who resides in Fresno, California, did not reply to interview requests but previously shared with Boxing Scene, “People often underestimate me based on my appearance. I believe that’s the case in every fight I’ve had.”

Reflecting on his sparring experiences in 2020, Blackwell noted, “Being there was surreal. The camp was mostly filled with celebrities rather than boxing professionals, showcasing a different side of the sport.”

Ronald Cruz, 33, Super Welterweight

Cruz fought on the undercard of the Canelo Alvarez-Jaime Munguia match in May, where he lost to Vito Mielnicki Jr. by unanimous decision. His current record is 19-4-1 as a professional.

Standing at 5 feet 9 inches, Cruz was knocked down twice in that fight, but he showcased competitive spirit, as seen in a video he shared on Instagram, where he fought hard in the final round.

Recalling his initial day in Tyson’s 2020 training camp, Cruz mentioned a fellow boxer lost a tooth during sparring with Tyson.

He praised Tyson’s remarkable head movement and strength, stating, “He seemed to be holding back to avoid hurting me, yet he still had immense power.”