‘Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul is grotesque – there’s just one cause to observe Netflix circus’

The sight of Mike Tyson on his backside with his back against the ropes as he was being beaten by Kevin McBride was a sad one.

That was almost 20 years ago. Tyson was far from the Baddest Man on the Planet then as plucky McBride caused an almighty shock against a shot fighter. No matter what happens in the early hours of Saturday morning in Texas, it will be even more tragic than that night when Tyson’s career ended in utter embarrassment.

Even in the unlikely event Tyson flattens Jake Paul, it will be a dark moment for boxing that this has even been allowed to happen. Tyson has argued this week that back when Irishman McBride sent him into retirement in six rounds he was abusing his body with alcohol and recreational drugs.

But even if he sounds sharper these days and seems to be in better health, he’s still a 58-year-old man. One of the most iconic figures of heavyweight boxing – for positive and very negative reasons – is closer to being in his pipe and slippers years than his fighting ones. If you weren’t sure go back and watch his sorry exhibition bout with Roy Jones Jnr in 2020.

Let’s get one thing straight here. Paul is a poor boxer. He’s a novice who would be hard to match for an amateur show down your local club because most capable boxers would comfortably beat him.

The only people with somewhat of a boxing background he’s beaten came up almost two stone to face him while the limited Tommy Fury was too good for him. But he is 31 years younger than Tyson and in shape.

If Tyson doesn’t catch him early then the former world heavyweight champion could be exhausted even with two-minute rounds. That will lead to this event being a bigger circus act if a once feared fighter is left a physical wreck plodding around chasing down a social media star who is a wannabe fighter.

ESPN reported in the US earlier this week that some states’ gambling commissions have refused to give markets on the bout because it is a novelty act despite being sanctioned by the Texas authorities. The UK bookmakers haven’t been so moral about the eight-round contest with 14oz gloves.

It was only in July that Tyson was left in agony when stomach ulcers flared up on a flight and this event had to be delayed. That’s what can happen when you’re in your late 50s and haven’t lived the healthiest of lives.

There’s been training clips of Tyson shown which have brought excitement from those harking back to his glory days. But they’re heavily edited segments, any retired fighter in their 50s can throw punches for a few moments.

Former European champion Richie Woodhall once explained a key difference as well. You can maybe get fit to throw punches but after a long time out of the ring, your body has been de-conditioned to being hit.

There’s a reason why punch ups in pubs don’t last 36 minutes. Most ‘normal’ people have no punch resistance because their neck muscles are not strong enough to absorb blows.

But millions will tune in on Netflix to watch this event from the AT&T Stadium in Arlington. It will bring more eyeballs to Katie Taylor’s undisputed light-welterweight rematch with Amanda Serrano on the undercard.

But you’d be wise to turn off your TV after that. Otherwise you will only get to witness a grotesque, money-making enterprise that sullies the reputation of the sweet science even further.

Many argue where Tyson ranks in heavyweight history given his spell outside of the ring while in prison for rape took away his peak years as a fighter. But what no true boxing fan can debate is that night in 2005 should have been the last time he ever stepped foot inside a ring.