Heavyweight boxing legend Mike Tyson and social media influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul are set to face one another on July 20 at AT&T Stadium in an event that will likely be live-streamed on Netflix. But considering Tyson’s age (58 by the point of the fight), many have expressed concern concerning the fight and Tyson’s possibilities, including former NFL MVP Cam Newton.
On the newest episode of the 4th & 1 Podcast, Newton said Tyson, one of the vital famous boxers of all time and a former heavyweight champion, is risking his legacy by stepping in the ring with Paul.
“If [Paul] knocks Mike Tyson’s a– out, does that affect the way you look — does that f–k up his legacy? That’s an actual query… and I’m going to say yes,” Newton said before likening the situation to Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s multiple exhibition fights since retiring from skilled boxing in 2017.
Mayweather has fought in seven exhibition bouts since then, including an eight-round fight against Jake Paul’s brother, Logan Paul, in June 2021.
“I believe Mike got way an excessive amount of to lose then,” Newton said. “If Jake Paul loses, he can bounce back. (If Tyson loses) I do not think it is a bounce-back. It’s like, ‘The way you get knocked out by a YouTuber?’ … That young boy strength and that old man strength is 2 various kinds of strengths.
“Let’s do the age breakdown, so the reality of the matter is that this, doesn’t matter how you are feeling about Jake Paul, going back to being very strategic, he knows he’s not fighting the most effective version of Iron Mike.
“This may occasionally be Michael, we wish to see him knock his a– out, but my point is that this: there’s a 30-years-old age gap. So that you mean to inform me, me at 27, motherf—king Joe Montana could compete with me or beat me? Hell no.”
Mike Tyson’s boxing profession history
Mike Tyson once ruled the boxing world. Despite often being the smaller opponent within the fight, Tyson’s dynamite-like power served as the nice equalizer and his calling card as he became the heavyweight champion of the world in addition to one of the vital popular and highest-paid boxers of all time.
After compiling a 37-0 record, which included 33 knockouts, Tyson suffered the primary lack of his profession in February 1990 when massive underdog Buster Douglas knocked Tyson out in what is taken into account one among the largest upsets in sports history.
Tyson recovered and rattled off several wins before being convicted of rape and serving three years in prison. Following his release, Tyson ascended back to world champion status by winning the WBA and WBC heavyweight titles.
Tyson’s skilled profession took a good greater turn southward in 1997 when Tyson was disqualified from his championship bout for biting the ear of Evander Holyfield, who had beaten Tyson the previous 12 months. After the second Holyfield fight, Tyson had 10 more fights; he won five, lost three, and had two no contests.
Tyson attempted to repay a few of his debts years later with a “world tour,” which ended quickly following a lackluster exhibition fight against Corey Saunders in 2006. Iron Mike returned to the ring for the primary time in greater than a decade in 2020, as he and Roy Jones Jr. faced one another in an eight-round exhibition that saw a surprisingly game Tyson go to a controversial split draw.
Now, Tyson is about to get back into the ring for one more exhibition fight with Jake Paul, who, since becoming a preferred YouTuber and influencer, has capitalized on his fame in the game of boxing.
After a 2018 exhibition TKO over Deji Olatunji, one other YouTuber, Paul turned pro and won the primary six fights of his skilled profession. He mostly defeated former athletes and mostly, MMA fighters, including ex-UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley and former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva.
Paul suffered his first and only loss to Tommy Fury, the younger brother of lineal boxing heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, in February 2023. Since then, Paul has won three more fights, including a unanimous decision victory over former UFC fighter Nate Diaz.
