{"id":129803,"date":"2025-09-11T11:42:10","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T11:42:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/129803\/"},"modified":"2025-09-11T11:42:10","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T11:42:10","slug":"i-sympathise-with-mike-tyson-but-hell-be-a-human-punching-bag-for-floyd-mayweather","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/129803\/","title":{"rendered":"‘I sympathise with Mike Tyson – but he’ll be a human punching bag for Floyd Mayweather’"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"LIVE
\n\t\tMike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather are set to compete in an exhibition bout next year (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

Ricky Hatton<\/a> has criticised those around Mike Tyson<\/a> for letting him step back into the ring and fears Floyd Mayweather<\/a> could turn him into a \u2018human punching bag\u2019.<\/p>\n

Tyson, who will turn 60 next year, ended his 19-year retirement when he faced off against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in November last year.<\/p>\n

But the American, an undisputed heavyweight champion in his heyday, looked a shadow of his former self, running out of steam a matter of minutes into the fight en route to a farcical defeat to Paul.<\/a><\/p>\n

Even prior to that defeat, Tyson\u2019s health had come under the spotlight when he revealed he \u2018almost died\u2019 months before the fight after an ulcer flare-up onboard a plane.<\/a><\/p>\n

Despite all of that, the 59-year-old now looks set to step back into the ring once again next year in an exhibition bout with former five-division world champion Mayweather.<\/p>\n

Mayweather, 48, has fought in a number of exhibition bouts since retiring in 2017 with a perfect 50-0 record, most recently against John Gotti III last August.<\/p>\n

While smaller and far lighter than Tyson, the 11-year age gap means Mayweather will most certainly be the sharper and fresher man.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"LIVE
\n\t\tJake Paul comfortably beat Tyson in a farcical bout last November (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

And despite only being an exhibition \u2013 unlike the defeat to Paul, which went on Tyson\u2019s professional record \u2013 former world champion Hatton fears the 59-year-old could still get seriously hurt by his far younger opponent.<\/p>\n

\u2018In normal circumstances, given the size difference, you would probably be more worried about Floyd\u2019s well-being, but I think the opposite,\u2019 Hatton told Metro ahead of his appearance at the Lord Mayor of London\u2019s Fire Fight Night, where he will be awarded the Freedom of the City of London.<\/p>\n

\u2018I don\u2019t think Mike will get near him and he\u2019ll be a human punching bag to be honest.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Floyd
\n\t\tTyson will step back into the ring to face former five-weight world champion Mayweather (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

\u2018Mike\u2019s approaching sixty, and you saw from his last fight that he\u2019s well and truly past it. I think Mike could really end up getting hurt. I\u2019m not sure I even believe it yet, to be honest, but it would be bad for boxing if it is allowed.<\/p>\n

\u2018There\u2019s no winner. If Mike somehow hits Floyd and flattens him then people will say \u2018Look at the size difference, it shouldn\u2019t have been allowed\u2019. <\/p>\n

\u2018But if Floyd goes in there and boxes his head off and uses him as a punching bag then people will say \u2018We knew that was going to happen.\u2019 <\/p>\n

\u2018So there\u2019s no positives to come out of it except a lot of dough which clearly is the only thing people are thinking about.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018I know how difficult it is to give up the sport\u2019<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Natasha
\n\t\tRicky Hatton is also plotting a return to the ring (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

Tyson is by no means the first boxer to struggle to turn their back on the ring, with Hatton, himself, making a comeback of his own later in the year.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2018The Hitman\u2019 did fight Marco Antonio Barrera in an exhibition three years ago, but will now fight for the first time professionally since 2012 when he takes on Eisa Al Dah in Dubai in December this year.<\/p>\n

Hatton, though, is keen to differentiate between Tyson\u2019s latest fight and his own comeback against Al Dah, who is the same age as Hatton and has a modest 8-3 record, and said more must be done to prevent ageing boxers from doing harm to themselves.<\/p>\n

\u2018I sympathise with Mike because it\u2019s so difficult to give up the sport,\u2019 he added. <\/p>\n

\t\t\"File
\n\t\tHatton will step back into the ring in December for the first time in 13 years (Picture: PA)<\/p>\n

\u2018Other than selling a few dodgy carpets with my Dad when I first turned professional, it\u2019s all I\u2019ve ever known. I\u2019ve been a fighter all my life and you can\u2019t switch that off. I\u2019m sure he\u2019s the same.<\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019ve learnt how to deal with retirement now \u2013 I\u2019m a trainer and I do events to keep myself busy \u2013 but you still do miss the sport and that\u2019s why I\u2019m still having the odd fight here or though.<\/p>\n

\u2018If you look at my comeback, we\u2019re both similar ages, and it\u2019s a very doable fight. He\u2019s an 8-3 record, so it\u2019s not like Paulie Malignaggi fighting bare knuckle at his age or Mike coming back against Floyd. Mine is a very safe fight.\u2019<\/p>\n

Hatton continued: \u2018But if Mike is being offered tens of millions of dollars to step back into the ring then how are you going to say no? <\/p>\n

\u2018That\u2019s where I think it should be taken out of Mike\u2019s hands. There should be more people able to step in and say \u2018No, we can\u2019t allow this to happen\u2019 because otherwise the fighters will just keep going. <\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s what they\u2019re born to do and even more so if you stick a big lump of cash in front of them. But I\u2019m not sure it can go on like this.\u2019<\/p>\n

Ricky Hatton was speaking ahead of his appearance at the Lord Mayor of London\u2019s Fire Fight Night on 8 October, where he will be awarded the Freedom of the City of London. Click here for tickets and more information.<\/a><\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
\nFacebook<\/a>,\u00a0Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: Mike Tyson vs Floyd Mayweather \u2018might not happen\u2019 warns Matchroom chief Frank Smith<\/a><\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: \u2018I wanna see it\u2019 \u2013 Mike Tyson makes prediction for Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford<\/a><\/p>\n


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