1. He hasn't fought professionally in almost 20 years
In 1986, at the age of 20, the American became the youngest heavyweight world champion in history by dominating Trevor Berbick in the second round. He first reigned over the category for several years, before an initial decline and a stay in prison after a conviction for rape.
On his return to competition, he was once again crowned WBA and WBC world champion in 1996 and won several prestigious fights in the 2000s. Caught up by his age, he won his last professional victory in 2003 against Clifford Étienne , then fought his last professional fight against Kevin McBride in 2005.
Mike Tyson has since participated in several exhibition fights, the last in 2020 against Roy Jones Jr. The confrontation against Jake Paul will be counted as a professional fight, his first in almost 20 years.
2. His training impressed Internet users
As soon as his fight against Jake Paul was announced, Mike Tyson published photos and videos of his fitness and intensive training before returning to the ring.
Despite his 58 years, the boxer's videos have impressed Internet users around the world with the speed and intensity of his sequences, giving the impression that the former world champion has lost none of his splendor.
Many Internet users also mocked the difference in intensity between Mike Tyson's training and those of Jake Paul, despite the almost 30 years that separate the two boxers. Mike Tyson himself took the stage by explaining the difference with his opponent. “He’s a killer made up by the media when I was born to kill.”
3. His health worries
The idea of a fight between the two men emerged in 2022 but was initially postponed because Mike Tyson's health was failing. “Kid Dynamite” suffers from chronic sciatica, uses a cane to get around and is even seen in a wheelchair at Miami airport.
The boxer's health improved and the fight was scheduled for July 2024, but was ultimately postponed, Mike Tyson being dizzy and suffering from an ulcer. If the American appears in good shape on the eve of the fight, there are certain doubts concerning his ability to last for 8 rounds, at almost 60 years old.
4. His face tattoo is copyrighted
Mike Tyson's face tattoo is an integral part of his character today. In 2003, it was the artist S. Victor Whitmill who performed this tattoo on the boxer's face, before his fight against Clifford Étienne, which would be Mike Tyson's last professional victory.
After its completion, Mike Tyson agreed in writing that all drawings, artwork and photographs relating to him belonged to the Whitmill Studio. But in 2011, in the film Hangover 2, one of the characters got the same tattoo on his face, a scene which was reproduced on posters for the film.
Victor Whitmill then filed copyright on the tattoo and launched legal action against Warner Bros, the film's distributor. The matter was ultimately settled under undisclosed terms. Although the case has not set a precedent, it is the first time that a court has commented on copyright on tattoos. The boxer has other tattoos, including a portrait of Mao Zedong and a portrait of Che Guevara.
5. Long ruined, this fight could bring him big
Considered the boxer who has won the most money in history, Mike Tyson has nevertheless announced on several occasions that he is ruined or bankrupt. The first time in 2003, when he had earned more than 300 million dollars thanks to his fights. After several exhibition fights and thriving businesses, the boxer once again announced that he was ruined in 2010.
