…as he fights Jake Paul today
Mike Tyson, the legendary heavyweight champion, is set to return to the ring today for a highly criticized bout against YouTube personality Jake Paul.
The move has sparked widespread condemnation within the boxing world,
The 58-year-old Tyson, who last fought professionally in 2005, will face the 27-year-old Paul in an eight-round, two-minute-per-round contest at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The fight, sanctioned by the governing bodies and backed by Netflix, has drawn fierce criticism from prominent figures in the boxing world, citing concerns over Tyson’s age, health, and safety.
“Twenty years ago, Mike Tyson retired from boxing, and was shot to pieces, right? I mean, completely shot,” said Eddie Hearn, a renowned British fight promoter. “If anyone thinks that Mike Tyson should be in a ring at this age, you either have absolutely no emotional feelings toward the man, or you’re an idiot. It shouldn’t be happening.”
Frank Warren, another prominent promoter, echoed Hearn’s sentiments.
“Mike Tyson is 58 years of age and he shouldn’t be fighting,” Warren said.
“It’s as simple as that. Anyone with an ounce of brains knows that it is ridiculous. You can be on a motorway stuck in a traffic jam and you get to the end of it and all it is is people who have stopped to look at a crash — and that’s what this is,” he said.
Tyson’s advanced age and health concerns were further highlighted in May when he required medical treatment on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles after vomiting blood due to a bleeding ulcer. The incident led to the postponement of the initial July fight date.
Despite the backlash, Tyson remains defiant, attributing the criticism to jealousy.
“I’m beautiful, that’s all I can say,” Tuson said earlier this year.
“The people who said that wish they were up here. No one else can do this,” he added.
Reports suggest Tyson is set to receive approximately $20 million for the contest, fueling concerns that financial gain is prioritized over his well-being.
The highly contentious fight has sparked debate about the ethics of allowing a 58-year-old to compete in a physically demanding and potentially hazardous sport.
As the boxing world holds its breath, many are left wondering if this spectacle is more of a macabre circus act than a legitimate athletic contest.
