- Mike Tyson’s Return: The 58-year-old retired heavyweight champion Mike Tyson is set to participate in his first professional fight in years, taking place in Texas against 27-year-old Jake Paul.
- Opponents’ Backgrounds: Tyson, with a career record of 50-6 including 44 knockouts, faces Paul, who transitioned from a social media influencer to a professional boxer in 2020. Paul’s estimated earnings for the fight are $40 million, while Tyson’s are projected at $20 million.
- Tyson’s Career Highlights: Tyson rose to fame in the 1980s, achieving a perfect 30-0 record by age 21 and winning the WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight titles, becoming the first to hold all three simultaneously.
- Past Legal Troubles: Tyson’s career was marred by personal and legal issues, including a high-profile conviction in 1992 for sexually assaulting Desiree Washington, for which he served three years of a six-year sentence.
- Health Setbacks: A planned fight between Tyson and Paul was postponed earlier this year due to Tyson suffering from a severe ulcer that led to significant weight loss and a period of health concerns.
- Weigh-In Incident: During the weigh-in, Tyson struck Paul, although the exact cause of the altercation is unclear. Paul has publicly expressed his intent to knock out Tyson.
- Tyson’s Perspective: Tyson has described himself as having a natural “killer instinct,” in contrast to Paul’s media-driven persona as a fighter.
Boxing legend Mike Tyson, now 58, is set to make his return to the ring in Texas for the first time in years, facing 27-year-old Jake Paul. Tyson’s impressive career record of 50-6 and status as the former unified heavyweight champion contrasts with Paul’s relatively recent foray into professional boxing, starting in 2020. The match comes after a delay due to Tyson’s health issues, including a severe ulcer. The build-up has included a tense weigh-in where Tyson punched Paul. Tyson has portrayed himself as inherently fierce, while Paul’s reputation stems more from media influence.
Mike Tyson
Boxing icon Mike Tyson is set to participate in his first official match in years on Friday.
The 58-year-old retired heavyweight champion is returning to the ring for his first professional fight in Texas against 27-year-old Jake Paul, who transitioned from a social media star to a boxer.
Tyson ended his boxing career with a record of 50 wins and 6 losses, including 44 knockouts. Paul has been a professional boxer since 2020. According to DraftKings Network, estimates suggest that Tyson will earn approximately $20 million for accepting the fight on Friday. It is estimated that Paul earns $40 million.
The Career of Mike Tyson as a Professional Boxer
Tyson gained prominence in the 1980’s when he achieved his first victory by knocking out Hector Mercedes in the first round. When he reached the age of 21, he had a perfect 30-0 record and was the champion of both the WBA and WBC heavyweight divisions. In his 31st bout, Tyson beat Tony Tucker to win the IBF championship and became the first heavyweight fighter to hold all three titles.
In less than ten years, Tysons’ personal life started to crumble. According to The Athletic, Tyson’s initial wife, Robin Givens, requested a divorce in 1989 due to spousal abuse.
In 1992, Tyson, who was 25 years old, was found guilty of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old named Desiree Washington and was given a six-year prison term. During that period, Washington was a student at college and held the title of Miss Black Rhode Island. Tyson was introduced to her at the Miss Black American pageant in Indianapolis in 1991.
Tyson was sentenced to six years in prison but was released in 1995, having served only three years. He continues to assert his innocence, stating in his autobiography from 2013, “I did not sexually assault Desiree Washington.”
Tyson wrote that she is aware of it, God is aware of it, and she must live with the consequences of her actions for the rest of her life.
Mike Tyson’s History with Jake Paul
Tyson and Paul were initially planned to have a fight in July, but it had to be delayed when Tyson had a flareup of an ulcer in May. During an interview for Netflix’s show Countdown: Paul vs Tyson, Tyson revealed that the ulcer measured over two inches in length and resulted in a weight loss of 26 pounds.
Tyson said all his friends were calling him as if he was on his deathbed. I inquired of the doctor if I would perish, and she did not respond with a ‘No.’ “I went through so much with my ulcer, you wouldn’t even imagine.”
During the official weigh-in on Thursday, Tyson punched his opponent Paul in the face. It is unknown what triggered Tyson, however, Paul has repeatedly mentioned in interviews before Friday that he intends to knockout his opponent.
In a Netflix countdown show, Tyson stated, “There is a basic distinction between myself and Jake.” He is a created murderer. Television and newspapers turned him into a murderer. I was born with a natural instinct for killing.
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