Mike Tyson is set to return to the ring almost twenty years after his final professional bout, facing YouTuber-turned-fighter Jake Paul.
Other than an exhibition with Roy Jones Jr in 2020 and one against Corey Sanders in 2006, ‘Iron’ Mike’s last time stepping through the ropes was against Irish heavyweight Kevin McBride in 2005.
Tyson had been out of the ring almost a year following a knockout loss to Danny Williams before returning against McBride, who would be able to tire the 38-year-old American out with his jab and clinch strategy.
An increasingly frustrated Tyson resorted to illegal tactics before retiring on his stool after the sixth. In an emotional post-fight interview he said he didn’t have fighting in his heart anymore after giving two decades to the sport.
“I would’ve like to continue but I saw I was getting beat on. I realised I don’t think I have it anymore. I got the ability to stay in shape but I don’t got the fighting guys I don’t think anymore. [I recognised it] early into the fight. I’m just sorry I let everybody down. I don’t have this in my heart anymore.
I’m just fighting to take care of my bills basically, I don’t have the stomach for this no more. I’m more conscious of my children, looking at my appearance… I don’t have that ferocity. I’m not an animal anymore.”
McBride – who boxed on for another six years – believe there’s enough ferocity there to beat the likes of Paul, who has a record of 10-1 with seven knockouts largely coming against retired MMA fighters.
Speaking to Instant Casino this year, the 35-10 heavyweight said he ‘could tell’ his old foe would win by knockout.
“When you’re a fighter like Tyson I can tell you he’s going in there to win and to take care of business. He does not want to look back and think he let Jake Paul off the hook. He’s going in there to win and Paul will need to be on his best form to survive. I can tell from the media that Tyson has done so far that he wants to win, it’s in his blood, the competition will never leave him.
Jake Paul’s getting a little bit better, he’s getting more ring experience, but he’s going to find out the power Tyson has. Paul is maybe half the age of Tyson but Tyson is so dangerous. Power is the last thing you lose. You can see it on the videos he’s posting, it may only be a short video, but it’s unbelievable power.
All Mike Tyson has to do is connect and Jake Paul will be seeing Christmas lights for the next week. He’ll time him in the first couple rounds and it will be over.”
Paul-Tyson takes place on November 15 after an initial postponement on medical grounds. The undercard will feature Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano’s rematch.
