A Look at What’s at Stake When 58-Year-Old Mike Tyson Returns to the Ring

Los Angeles, California:

Nearly two decades after hanging up his gloves, Mike Tyson, 58, will return to the ring on Friday for a Netflix-supported bout. Tyson, who terrorized the heavyweight division during his authoritarian reign in the late 1980s, will face 27-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in an officially sanctioned fight at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys in the US state of Texas. .

Tyson, who became the youngest heavyweight champion in history in 1986 at the age of 20 years and four months, retired in 2005 after losing to Kevin McBride. He said that he had nothing left to give to sports at that time. The boxing legend last fought against Roy Jones Jr. in 2020 in an exhibition match without fans during the pandemic.

Now, facing a man who is not even half himself, the former world heavyweight champion will become one of the oldest boxers to compete in a sanctioned professional fight. The match, which is not an exhibition match, is described by experts as “an indictment of boxing” and a “competitive fight”.

Tyson Returns to the Ring

So why is Mike Tyson lacing up the gloves once again after 19 years? The answer is simple; money. According to reports, Mike Tyson is paid $20 million for this fight alone. Jake Paul reportedly received twice that: $40 million.

A showdown is also seen as Netflix’s latest one-two punch, as the media giant hopes to cash in on sports’ shift to streaming. The broadcast powerhouse will broadcast the event live to its global list of subscribers of 280 million. Moreover, according to BBC news, a crowd of approximately 70,000 people is expected to watch Tyson step into the ring once again.

For the streaming giant, Tyson vs. Paul’s biggest live sporting event to date, and with the NFL and WWE on the horizon, it’s an opportunity to ensure it can meet viewer demand.

Health Concerns

The Netflix-backed bout also sparked widespread condemnation in the boxing world. Although the rules of the game have been changed, experts have gained insight into what role Mike Tyson’s age may play in the highly anticipated fight. The bout was originally scheduled for July but was postponed in May after Tyson required medical treatment after vomiting blood due to a bleeding ulcer on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles.

Stephen Hughes, a senior medical lecturer at Anglia Riskin University in England who raised the issue, cited Tyson’s age and past alcohol abuse as risk factors. In an article published by “The Conversation,” Hughes said head trauma sustained during a fight can increase a boxer’s risk of suffering a potentially fatal subdural hematoma.

Prominent British fight promoter Eddie Hearn also pointed out that Tyson’s health was at risk during the fight and said: “Mike Tyson quit boxing twenty years ago and was shot and blown to pieces, right? I mean, he was completely shot.”

“If anyone thinks Mike Tyson should be in the ring at this age, you either have absolutely no emotional feelings for the man or you’re an idiot. This shouldn’t be happening,” he added.

Hearn’s rival promoter Frank Warren echoed these sentiments, saying: “Mike Tyson is 58 and shouldn’t be fighting.”

“Anyone with an ounce of brain knows this is ridiculous. You can be on a highway stuck in traffic jams and you get to the end of the road and there are people just stopping to see an accident – and this is what this is,” he added.

Mike Tyson’s Answer

Mike Tyson, who is said to have been paid around $20 million for Friday’s contest according to US reports, has brushed off concerns about his health, with critics from the boxing world insisting they were motivated by jealousy.

“I’m beautiful, that’s all I can say,” she said earlier this year. “People who say that wish they were here. No one else can do that.”

At an open workout in Texas this week, Tyson revealed that a grueling training camp had led him to believe “I’m tougher than I thought I was.”

“When I accepted this fight and started training, I was like, ‘What was I thinking?’ “I thought. But I finished the process. The struggle is the party’s job.”