Isn't going to the end of a boxing fight considered professional the greatest victory that Mike Tyson could hope for when he returned to the ring at 58? In view of the fears of serious injuries for the almost sixty-year-old expressed by many observers, including the former American world champion Deontay Wilder, we can consider that yes. Almost twenty years after his last fight (a defeat against Irishman Kevin McBride in June 2005), Tyson is no longer really “Iron Mike”, as we suspected.
And the former world heavyweight champion was largely beaten on Friday evening by the famous YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul (27), in a professional exhibition-style fight in Arlington (Texas). The start of the fight, fought in eight rounds of two minutes (and not twelve rounds of three minutes), was marked by good initiatives from a leggy Mike Tyson, Jake Paul and his left jabs then flew over the debates.
“I have nothing to prove to anyone”
So much so that the American with 20.8 million subscribers on YouTube (and nine pro fights won out of ten so far) was unanimously declared the winner by the judges. The main thing was almost elsewhere for the latter's promotion company, the aptly named Most Valuable Promotions (MVP): the event was broadcast live with great fanfare on Netflix and it attracted more than 72,000 spectators to the AT &T Stadium in Arlington.
By clicking on“I accept”you accept the deposit of cookies by external services and will thus have access to the content of our partners.
More information on the Cookie management policy page
I accept
And if the trashtalking had been formidable the day before during the weigh-in, after a big slap from Tyson on his young opponent (“he's an angry little goblin”), this show was also the occasion for a great tribute returned to the career of “Iron Mike”. “It’s such an honor to be able to fight against him,” Jake Paul said at the end of the fight. Mike Tyson is a legend, an icon, the greatest boxer in history, he is the GOAT. he inspired me and we wouldn't be here today without him. It was very hard as I imagined. »
Our file on Mike Tyson
To which the hero of the evening, despite his defeat, replied: “I have nothing to prove to anyone other than myself. I was happy with what I was able to do.” Not sure that this probable “last dance” of the youngest heavyweight world champion (in 1986), which will bring him the juicy sum of 40 million euros (like for Jake Paul), will still remain in the history of his sport.
