Boxers like Mike Tyson need to be saved from themselves

Legend was a shadow of his former self in defeat to YouTuber Jake Paul and should not be allowed to enter the ring again

Copy link
twitter
facebook
whatsapp
email
Copy link
twitter
facebook
whatsapp
email
Mike Tyson was once the self-styled ‘Baddest Man On The Planet’ but he needs to be protected from himself at the age of 58. It is an old adage in boxing and it holds true after the highly-marketed live event which broke records.
Why? Because Mike Tyson was involved. Yet the wear and tear of a life lived in extremes was in plain sight against the neophyte boxer Jake Paul, 31 years his junior. The old heavyweight king no longer has it in his bones.
We knew it really. So did he. Millions of people were seduced in spite of Tyson’s years that he could create a nostalgia moment for the ages. While the build-up was brilliant, full of hype, hope and drama, the denouement disappointed.
We all wanted living legend Tyson to walk to the ring in his black cape, trunks and boots, to roll back the years, knock out the young upstart, and sprinkle magic on the event. Even other greats like Roy Jones Jr spoke privately that there would be no way that Paul would be able to deal with the knowledge that the old fighter has amassed in an extraordinary life, in and out of the ring.
Yet the body cannot follow what the mind wants at a certain age. It is impossible. And that played out sadly here in a fight when not just Father Time, but Grandfather Time displayed his cruel wares.
As for YouTuber/influencer boxing – where the sport is hijacked if you like, as a platform for theatre and drama – it is here to stay. Based on numbers alone, it has supreme marketability. This week, throughout the very clever build-up, it drew around 72,000 spectators to the live event, breaking new records. The gate amassed over $18 million (around £14 million), double the previous Texas gate record for combat sports in both boxing and MMA, obliterating Saúl Canelo Álvarez’s record of $9 million when he fought Briton Billy Joe Saunders. Paul and Tyson’s fight drew 60 million viewers worldwide, according to Netflix.
Tyson did not show at the post-fight news conference. He went straight into the arms of family afterwards. He will have been disappointed.
His right knee had strapping around it. There was no footwork left in his legs, apart from the opening round, and although there were occasional glimpses of the skills that once made him a great, it is no longer there.
‘The Problem Child’ won the first round with scorecards of 80-72, 79-73 and 79-73. After that, he could not get to where he wanted to be. Paul landed 78 of 278 total punches and connected on 31 of 179 jabs, according to CompuBox statistics. Tyson landed only 18 of his 97 total punches to go along with five of 62 jabs.
In the aftermath Paul was being condemned for pulling Tyson out of his dotage and retirement – his last fight was in 2005 against Kevin McBride – and accused of exploiting the legendary figure to draw an audience of millions to Netflix.
Tyson reportedly earned a whopping $20 million from his part in the show – and frankly did well to finish the eight, two-minute rounds. But for his health, the iconic boxer took 78 punches too many.
Despite looking sluggish and every year of his age, Tyson said he might be seen in a ring again. Let’s hope not. It should not be allowed. Tyson’s time was 30 years ago, in a different era. I would not want the dignified man Tyson has become to fight again. Or, more importantly, to get hurt.
Copy link
twitter
facebook
whatsapp
email