Mike Tyson returned to professional boxing for the first time in nearly twenty years when he took on YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul on November 15.
Although many were hoping the former heavyweight champion would turn back the clock, ‘Iron’ Mike looked every bit of his 58-years of age, and Paul cruised to a comfortable points win seemingly carrying Tyson in the later rounds.
Speaking on the Impaulsive podcast with his brother Logan after the contest, Paul admitted he was disappointed in Tyson’s performance and wished he hadn’t just come to ‘survive’
“I wish he would have put up a better fight so that I could have risen more and done more. He was surviving, so that was the only thing that I didn’t like. [His punches felt like nothing] I didn’t feel a thing to be honest. He didn’t really land anything.”
Tyson takes a different view and had ‘no regrets’ about his return
“This is one of those situations when you lost but still won. I’m grateful for last night. No regrets to get in ring one last time. I almost died in June. Had 8 blood transfusions. Lost half my blood and 25lbs in hospital and had to fight to get healthy to fight so I won.”
On Paul as a boxer, the iconic heavyweight branded him as a ‘talented’ fighter.
“To have my children see me stand toe to toe and finish 8 rounds with a talented fighter half my age in front of a packed Dallas Cowboy stadium is an experience that no man has the right to ask for. Thank you”
Paul’s attention now turns to finding his next opponent, with the likes of Carl Froch, Julio César Chávez Jr and a rematch against Tommy Fury all being linked to the 27-year-old.
