Mike Tyson‘s return to the boxing ring against Jake Paul has drawn some extreme criticism, surprising predictions and hot debate.
The 58-year-old retired in 2005 on back-to-back losses expressing a lack of love for the sport he made such a mark on. Next month, he looks to turn back to clock over eight two-minute rounds against Paul, wildly less experience but with youth and activity on his side.
Addressing the contest back in March in an interview with Fight Hub TV, Hall of Fame fighter turned promoter Bernard Hopkins branded the fight ‘degrading.’
“I don’t like it. I look at Mike different in the way of my era, like people looked at Ali. And I looked at Ali different too, Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Robinson.
I think it’s become more of a sideshow, with some sweat, maybe some blood if we lucky. I won’t watch it. I could watch two turtles race and be more excited … It’s because of how I look at Mike Tyson. I shared, not only the ring with Mike Tyson a few times, but the era. Right? A little tip of the era. I just think it degrades him.”
Speaking more recently to the same outlet, Hopkins viewed the event in a much more favourable light.
“I think it’s a great way of showing the world that entertainment. What I’ve done and what I’m promoting right now [through] Golden Boy and my partner Oscar De La Hoya is entertainment. This is entertainment but it’s also boxing on the highest, dangerous level. You can’t copy that in any way or pretending. You don’t pretend in this sport. You play basketball, you play football, you play hockey, you play soccer, you play golf, but you don’t play boxing. Boxing is a sport you don’t play.
“I think either of them can beat each other if they have the right strategy and go in with the right intent to actually beat each other up and make it what people believe it is. But I don’t think they’re gonna go all the way out. I think it’s gonna be sweat, maybe some blood, but I don’t think that it’s gonna be something we’re used to seeing if you’re saying it’s boxing. But if it’s entertainment, you’re gonna get what you supposed to get.”
Hopkins said that he isn’t surprised the bout is being sanctioned professionally, albeit with softer rules, because the sport that he has served since 1988 doesn’t surprise him.
