Boxing Hall of Famer Mike Tyson thinks the massive financial success of his fight with Jake Paul shows that the sport is in a poor spot.
Heavyweight boxing legend Mike Tyson made his remarkable return to the ring at age 58 in late 2024, losing to Jake Paul by unanimous decision. Tyson’s fight came almost 20 years after he left the sport professionally, stemming from his retirement bout against Kevin McBride in 2005.
Despite being years removed from the ring and being well into his 50s, Tyson’s fight with Paul was a massive financial success. The fight drew millions of viewers around the world and earned the heavyweight boxing legend an eight-figure payday.
But Tyson believes the success of the Paul fight is evidence that boxing’s current stars, including Canelo Alvarez and Shakur Stevenson, aren’t doing enough to help the sport’s brand.
Mike Tyson: Stars ‘don’t want to’ break boxing records and boost the sport
In a recent interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, Tyson gave a brutal assessment of the state of boxing.
“This is what fighters should be thinking right now… ‘How could this guy be 60 years old and break all the records?’ They should be disappointed with themselves,” Tyson said.
“How could this old cat come in here and break all the records? They don’t want to do it…they fight once or twice a year, no one knows who they are. They need to have a story behind them. People looking up to them and following them.
“It’s not that they’re not getting paid too much. If you get paid for one fight, why not do it three times in a year? It’s a no-lose situation,” Tyson continued. “You’re fighting, getting in shape, getting paid. More money than you ever have before.”
Tyson will return to the ring later this year in an exhibition bout against Floyd Mayweather Jr.
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