Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul | Mismatch Fight | Boxing 2024
Date: Saturday 20th July
Venue: AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
Capacity: 80,000
YouTube star-turned-boxer Jake Paul has certainly found a way to generate attention and pay-per-view revenue in the boxing world. However, how much longer can he avoid facing a real challenge against a true professional fighter in their prime?
So far, Paul’s perfect 6-0 record has been compiled entirely against opponents well past their athletic prime, from retired MMA fighters like Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley, to former NBA player Nate Robinson. While Paul has demonstrated natural athleticism and improving boxing skills, he is still a novice in the ring.
Beating fighters competing in their first professional boxing matches does little to prove how Paul would match up against a top young boxer in their physical and technical prime. It remains to be seen if he has the skills or mentality to compete against world-class opposition who have been fighting professionally for years.
Enter the name of Mike Tyson. Widely considered one of the most feared punchers of all time during his 1980s/90s reign, Tyson left an undeniable mark of dominance before his career spiraled in and out of the ring. The idea that the 27-year-old Paul could possibly threaten the now 57-year-old Tyson is disrespectful to Tyson’s historic legacy.
While Tyson is clearly past his physical prime, discussions comparing him unfavorably to Paul who has been carefully protected against tomato cans spark controversy. Tyson built his intimidating reputation by facing the absolute best heavyweights of his era, retiring with a 50-6 record stuffed with 44 knockout wins. As his prime faded, he was still competing against world-class opposition.
If Paul ever wants to earn real respect against elite boxers, putting his undefeated record on the line against a declining legend decades later does not seem the way. The debate rages on about how much longer Jake Paul can avoid facing his first true test inside the ring.
Mike Tyson Stats:
- Age: 57
- Figths: 58
- Wins: 50
- Losses: 6
- No Contests: 2
- Knockouts: 44
- Height: 5’10”
- Weight: 15st 7lb
- Reach: 71″
Widely regarded as one of, if not the hardest puncher in heavyweight history. In his prime, Tyson’s intimidating style and explosive punching power made him a dominating force who truly lived up to his “Baddest Man on the Planet” moniker. Won the heavyweight title at age 20 and established an era of fearsome dominance. However, his career spiraled after several controversies and a 1990 upset loss. While he had some comeback wins, he was not the same fighter. Now 57, Tyson is a shadow of what he once was physically, but his legacy as one of the most ferocious punchers ever is sealed. Left an indelible mark on boxing during his storied career in the 1980s and early 90s.
Jake Paul Stats
- Age: 27
- Figths: 10
- Wins: 9
- Losses: 1
- No Contests:0
- Knockouts: 6
- Height: 6’1″
- Weight: 14st 2lb
- Reach: 76″
For only having 10 fights, Paul has shown impressive boxing skills and knockout power. He tends to use his size and reach advantage over MMA opponents. Has a strong work ethic and improved visibly with each successive fight. However, the level of opposition has been very questionable. Beating retired UFC fighters and a basketball player is not the same as facing elite professional boxers. There are still major question marks about how he would handle a high-level boxer in his prime. His big talk has helped grow his celebrity and profile, but he has a long way to go before being considered among the best.
In the end, the debate surrounding Jake Paul’s competition level and comparisons to legends past their prime like Mike Tyson is more spectacle than sport. As long as Paul continues hand-picking non-boxer opponents significantly smaller and less skilled than him, his pro boxing record lacks context against truly world class competition.
Beating Askren and fighting Woodley in back-to-back fights when both men were late in their careers and making their boxing debuts was never going to be a fair match. While Paul’s brash self-promotion has undoubtedly sold pay-per-views, he has yet to prove himself as a serious boxer at the top level.
Unless Paul steps up his level of opposition dramatically in his next few fights, he may forever be seen as a YouTube entertainer padded record rather than a real threat to established prizefighters. Legends like Tyson earned their intimidating reputations by facing the most feared men of their eras in their athletic primes – something Paul is still avoiding in his early career.
Of course, the prospect of Paul someday outgrowing his hand-picked weaker opponents to challenge a young champion cannot be completely ruled out. But until then, unwarranted comparisons to all-time greats serve only to insult legends’ careers and disguise Paul’s lack of top level competition to date behind controversy. The real test remains ahead of Paul inside the ring against his first legitimate boxer.
The debate raging fans shows no signs of stopping. Only Paul’s actions by taking risks against stiffer competition will start to answer the many remaining questions about his potential as more than just a sideshow novelty act.
Latest reviews
This one is all about the Money!!
There’s no comparison here ….
My opinion Mike Tyson should have just hold is head high and leave the sport has the star he was.
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Disrespectful to the sport of Boxing
Very well written article, however in my opinion i feel it is disrespectful to the sport of boxing as Mike Tyson is a GOAT of the sport and Jake Paul is a social media influencer.
It makes no sense to have these two in the same ring as each other but MONEY talks!
Ridiculous fight match-up
As a lifelong boxing fan, I have to say the mere idea of Jake Paul stepping into the ring with Mike Tyson is nothing short of absurd. While I understand the hype and spectacle and it would surely sell millions of PPVs, it is ultimately a meaningless circus matchup that does little for the sport.
Paul, for all his bravado, is still green as grass in the pro game with only 6 padded fights against guys past their primes. He’s yet to face any real challenge. Tyson on the other hand is a legend who dominated the heavyweight division in his heyday – one of the most feared punchers of all time. Comparing the two is disrespectful.
We all know Father Time is undefeated, but Pitting a 27-year-old YouTuber against an 57-year-old icon who is well past his physical peak would be nothing short of sad. No good could come of endangering Tyson’s health or legacy for the sake of entertainment and paydays.
Styles make fights, but there is not a version of Mike Tyson today that could seriously compete with a world class prime boxer. He’s exhibited in exhibitions that while he still has power, his legs and stamina are understandably faded.
It’s a ridiculous farce of a fight that no reasonable fan could take seriously or learn anything from. Paul clearly just wants attention and easy fights to pad his record against guys too old or small. I want to see him in legitimate competitive matches, not charades against greats who came before him.
I’d rather remember Tyson at his dominant best, not play out lackluster twilight matchups just because entertaining sideshows sell. Both men would be better served facing worthier opponents closer to their primes if they want any real respect in the sport.
