Mike Tyson has set out boxing plans and given rematch view after Jake Paul battle
Boxing legend Mike Tyson has hinted at a possible return to the ring after his upcoming clash with internet sensation Jake Paul.
Despite not having fought professionally since his defeat by Kevin McBride in 2005, the heavyweight icon is gearing up for a much-anticipated comeback against newcomer Paul, scheduled for November 15. The match-up promises to be an epic event, as Tyson, boasting a record of 50-6-2(NC), takes on the ‘Problem Child’ Paul, who holds an impressive 10-1 professional record since starting out in 2020.
While concerns have been raised over Tyson’s age and time away from boxing, compared to Paul’s youth and recent activity, the 58-year-old looks set to dazzle fans at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, trusting in his legendary ability to secure victory. Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn labelled the fight as a “freak show” that nobody in the industry desires, but Tyson seems to relish the thought of a late-career revival.
At a May press conference, he exclaimed, “Hey, this has been pretty fun. Maybe we’ll do it again, yeah.” Although hesitant to jump ahead, saying “Can I take care of Jake first, please? “, Tyson notably hasn’t ruled out revisiting historic rivalries or taking on current top boxers in the future.
In a 2020 interview with Fox Sports, Mike Tyson entertained the idea of stepping back into the ring with Evander Holyfield, along with other heavyweight champs like Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Deontay Wilder. He quipped: “Absolutely. Holyfield, Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder,” reports the Mirror.
Yet when questioned about vying for a heavyweight world title at his age, Tyson swiftly countered: “Hell no, I’m talking about exhibitions man. Helping people and stuff, that’s bigger than a title. The title’s nothing man, it’s not even real gold – it’s tin and metal.”
Tyson, a former boxing titan, endured a defeat to Holyfield in November 1996, losing his WBA title via an 11th-round TKO. Their subsequent bout in 1997 was marked by controversy, ending with Tyson’s infamous disqualification for biting a piece of Holyfield’s ear.
Despite talk of an easy-going rematch between Tyson and Holyfield since their 2020 chat, such an event hasn’t progressed beyond discussion. Still, Tyson has had exhibition matches with figures like Mitt Romney and Vitor Belfort. Roy Jones Jr. has also hinted at reigniting his rivalry with Tyson after their ‘Lockdown Knockdown’ exhibition match in 2020.
The two boxing legends, Tyson and Jones Jr, clashed in an epic eight-round battle at the Staples Centre back in November 2020, which ended in a stalemate as declared by the WBC. Despite Tyson being satisfied with the result, Jones Jr expressed his feelings to BT Sports Box Office.
He said: “I don’t do draws man, but I understand why they say certain things are buckets lists, because when he hits you, if it’s his head, his punches, his body shots, it don’t matter. Everything hurts. For me, I thought I did enough boxing on the outside, but I’m cool with the draw. We might have to do it again.”
Fans are still waiting for a rematch between the two titans of the ring. Meanwhile, Tyson may be eager for a bout with Paul after their upcoming encounter, but he might need to be patient. Paul, aged 27, recently hinted at taking some time off from the sport following their next fight. In a conversation with streamer Adin Ross, he said: “I feel like I’m gonna take a little break. I’m gonna pull an Adin Ross and just disappear, man. I’m just gonna go off-grid.”
“I’m gonna keep fighting for sure. But I think my plan is to just get through November 15, have the best performance possible, knock Mike Tyson out and then just see how I’m feeling based off of that.”