Boxing World Divided as 58-Year-Old Mike Tyson Faces Jake Paul in Controversial Friday Match
Nearly four decades after his professional debut and 19 years since retiring, 58-year-old Mike Tyson is set to return to the ring this Friday in a highly controversial bout against 27-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. The fight, backed by Netflix, will take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys.
Tyson, who was once the dominant force in the heavyweight division in the late 1980s, will face Paul in an officially sanctioned eight-round match. The event, initially scheduled for July, was postponed after Tyson was hospitalized due to a bleeding ulcer. His medical scare has only intensified criticism of the upcoming fight, with many questioning the risks to Tyson’s health.
Prominent figures in the boxing world, including British promoter Eddie Hearn, have voiced strong objections to the fight. Hearn argued that Tyson, who last fought professionally in 2005 and retired after a technical knockout loss, should not be in the ring at his age. Fellow promoter Frank Warren likened the match to a spectacle, comparing it to rubbernecking at a car crash.
Despite the backlash, Tyson, reportedly set to earn around $20 million, has dismissed the criticism, attributing it to jealousy. At a recent open workout in Texas, Tyson appeared confident, stating that his training had shown him he was tougher than he had realized. “When I agreed to this fight, I thought, ‘What was I thinking?’ But I completed the process,” Tyson said.
Meanwhile, Paul, who has amassed an 11-1 record with 7 knockouts, has confidently predicted a quick victory, claiming he feels "sharp, powerful, and explosive." Tyson’s supporters, however, wonder if the former champion can still tap into the ferocity that once made him the youngest heavyweight champion in history at just 20 years old.
Veteran promoter Bob Arum, who is now 92, is less optimistic. “A 58-year-old man, no matter how good or athletic they were, can’t compete at that level anymore,” Arum said, expressing concern for Tyson’s safety.
The event, streaming on Netflix and drawing a live audience in Texas, has polarized the boxing community, with some eagerly anticipating a showdown between the two figures and others questioning the ethics and safety of the bout.
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