Mike Tyson has been told he is ‘tarnishing’ his reputation by fighting Jake Paul this summer.
The legend known as ‘Iron Mike’ is back in the ring this summer for the first time since 2020 when he will take on YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul in a bout that’s set for for July 20. The fight marks Tyson’s first since 2020, and despite it being nearly two decades since his last professional fight, the clash with Paul will be recorded on both fighters’ official records.
The forthcoming fight between the pair has sparked considerable controversy, in part due to the 31-year age gap between Tyson, 57, and Paul, 26. The upcoming face off has drawn ire from some corners of the boxing community and now, former cruiserweight world champion Johnny Nelson has voiced his concerns, suggesting that Tyson’s participation in the fight could severely damage his storied legacy.
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In a conversation with BetVictor, Nelson emphasised that the younger audience, who the fight is largely targeted at, might not fully grasp Tyson’s historical impact on the sport. Instead, they might perceive him merely as an “old man” stepping into the ring against a much younger opponent.
“It tarnishes Mike Tyson’s reputation,” Nelson stated. “All people will see is an old man, an ex-heavyweight champion, getting in the ring with Jake Paul. The younger generation will not appreciate the gravitas, the glory days, the success of Tyson. He dominated the heavyweight division. He was tremendous.”
Nelson expressed that if the fight had taken place even at the end of Tyson’s professional peak, there would be no question about the outcome. He is apprehensive about what this fight could mean for Tyson’s legacy.
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(Image: Getty)
“Anybody that knows anything about boxing understands that Tyson, even at the back end of his career when he wasn’t the boxer he was, would blitz Jake Paul. But now, Tyson is the same age as Jake Paul’s dad,” Nelson continued. “I don’t want to see it because I don’t want people to remember Mike for being turned over by some young kid.”
“If he does lose, it will haunt him for the rest of his life. I hope Tyson knocks him out but I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
The legitimacy of the fight has also been questioned within boxing circles, especially after Tyson requested the rounds be shortened from three minutes to two. When asked about this, Tyson explained: “I wanted shorter rounds for more action. If we have shorter rounds, we’ll fight more. More action.”
Meanwhile, Jake Paul, who has been defeated by Tommy Fury but recently won against former UFC star Nate Diaz, has increased his weight to 230 pounds in preparation for the fight. Amid the hype, Nelson acknowledged that the $50million Tyson is expected to earn from the fight is a tempting offer.
(Image: GETTY)
“Mike is doing it for his reasons. At 57 years old, if you’re going to be earning $50 million, when are you going to come across those opportunities again? I’m quite sure Mike has justified it to himself,” Nelson said.
“There are no benefits to the fight. All it does is improve Tyson’s bank balance, not his reputation. He is never going to reach the heights he did when he was at the peak of his career. Is knocking out Jake Paul better than the fighters he fought? No, it’s not.”
In a first for boxing, the fight will be shown on Netflix, with an undercard featuring a highly-anticipated rematch between Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor for the undisputed super-lightweight title. Despite the event’s glamour, Nelson remains sceptical, suggesting Tyson’s motives are primarily financial.
“His reputation is a lot bigger than beating Jake Paul,” Nelson concluded. “Jake Paul is buying scalps to elevate himself. He’s buying the scalp of Mike Tyson. For Tyson, it’s just about the bank balance.”