I’ve managed to avoid most of the hype surrounding tonight’s boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul. That was intentional on my part because I found the whole idea to be incredibly depressing.
When I was growing up, there was no athlete more fearsome than Mike Tyson. At the peak of his career, he was the best boxer of all time. You can count me in as one of the people who believes that Tyson, at his best, could have easily defeated Mohammed Ali. What Tyson lacked in finesse, he made up for in pure power. As Tyson got older, he got slower and was no longer as impressive as he used to be but that happens to almost every boxer. Even after he retired, Tyson remained a boxing icon. I don’t care how old he is or how slowly he might now move, I would not want to get on Mike Tyson’s bad side.
And then there’s Jake Paul. I had to ask Lisa who Jake Paul was. Apparently, he’s a YouTube star who has decided that he’s a boxer and who has won a few sketchy fights. Paul vs. Tyson is going to be his debut as a heavyweight.
Friends and fellow readers, let me just be blunt.
If “Iron Mike” Tyson loses to Jake Paul tonight, my childhood will be over. If Mike Tyson, the most fearsome boxer of my lifetime, loses to a YouTube star, I am just going to give up on everything and start my mid-life crisis. It would be one thing if this was an exhibition match. Everyone knows that an exhibition doesn’t mean anything. This is an officially sanctioned boxing match. This fight will forever be a part of Mike Tyson’s record. If Mike Tyson officially ends his career losing to Jake Paul, what’s the point?
And it could happen. Mike Tyson is 58 years old and Jake Paul is 27. There’s a big difference between 58 and 27. By his own admission, Mike Tyson also doesn’t like to train. In Tyson’s last officially sanctioned match, he lost to Kevin McBride. Remember that? Tyson quit the fight after the sixth round. And after he lost, Tyson said “I’m not going to disrespect the sport anymore by losing to this caliber of fighter.” Mike’s looking for a payday and so is Jake Paul. If Jake beats Mike Tyson, that’ll mean that anyone could beat Mike Tyson if they pay him enough. That would be the ultimate disrespect to the sport that Tyson says he loves.
I have faith in Iron Mike, though. I think Tyson will let the fight go to the end but I think he’ll win on points. I think that the universe or karma or whatever you want to call it will cut all of us fight fans a break.
At least, I hope it will.
Through the Shattered Lens 