Mike Tyson returns to professional boxing for the first almost two decades on from retiring in the ring against heavyweight Kevin McBride.
The former undisputed heavyweight champion said after the loss that he had lost the desire to fight, but Jake Paul, 19 years on, has managed to tempt him back to the ring.
Despite the bout being eight two minute rounds and both men wearing 14 ounce gloves, many in the sport have expressed serious worry for the 58-year-old against Paul, who is younger by 30 years and has been active.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Eddie Hearn – who promoted one of Paul’s first ever influencer bouts – fell firmly into that camp when he condemned the decision to have Tyson fighting and seemingly gave him no chance.
“What on earth are we doing? I’m lucky enough to have a business where we don’t need to do that. And I will never do that.
Anyone that thinks that [Tyson] should be in the ring right now either doesn’t have his best interests at heart or is an idiot. Mike Tyson left the sport of boxing – which was, what, 20 years ago, I don’t know, something like that – he was shot to pieces. You honestly think that a fighter that was shot to pieces 20 years ago should now be coming back?
I mean, I know he is only fighting Jake Paul, but it doesn’t matter. Jake Paul’s a powerful kid. He trains every day, he can punch … I get it, I get the business. I’m not criticising them, but for me, no, thank you, not in a million years.”
In a seperate interview, Hearn questioned the motivation, saying:
“Why do you want to go in at five per cent of what you were and lose to a guy like Jake Paul? He shouldn’t have to do that, but the world is the world we live in.”
The controversial bout has already been postponed once due to an ulcer flare-up for Tyson. The date is not set on November 15 in Texas.
