Mike Tyson, the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history, had not fought professionally since 2005.
Published on 16/11/2024 07:26
Reading time: 2min
A difficult return for the former heavyweight champion. Mike Tyson, boxing legend, was beaten by Jake Paul, controversial American YouTuber with more than 20 million subscribers, in a professional boxing fight with an exhibition feel in Arlington (Texas, United States), Friday 15 november.
After showing himself strong and dangerous for two rounds, Mike Tyson, aged 58 and who had not fought professionally since 2005, was largely dominated by Jake Paul. The young videographer turned boxer used his reach to hit him with his left jabs, and he was unanimously declared the winner by the judges, after 8 rounds of 2 minutes.
“It’s such an honor, Mike Tyson is a legend, the greatest in history, he inspired me. It was very hard as expected”greeted Jake Paul. “I am happy, I have nothing to prove to anyone but myself, I was happy with what I was able to do”commented Mike Tyson.
Mike Tyson, boxing legend and youngest heavyweight world champion in 1986, had not boxed professionally since June 2005 and a defeat against Irishman Kevin McBride. He had to postpone the originally scheduled fight against Paul on July 20, after receiving medical treatment on May 26 on board a plane due to an ulcer.
Many observers, including former American boxing world champion Deontay Wilder, have expressed concern about seeing a nearly sixty-year-old lined up in a professional fight, saying they fear a serious injury. The fight, fought in front of more than 72,000 spectators, was adapted for this purpose, with 8 rounds of 2 minutes (instead of 12 rounds of 3 minutes) and slightly thicker gloves. The broadcast of the match, exclusively on Netflix, was also marred by numerous technical problems.
