It’s ‘fight’ night!
Hello fight fans, and to all those just tuning in because you like a good circus.
We are covering the “fight” between heavyweight legend Mike Tyson, making his professional boxing comeback at the age of 58, and influencer-cum-boxer Jake Paul.
It’s often said that “styles make fights”, but I can’t ever recall anything quite like this. In one corner you’ve got Tyson, “The Baddest Man on the Planet”, making a professional return after almost two decades out of the ring. In the other is Paul, who has probably made just as much money by uploading video pranks onto YouTube.
Mike Tyson and Jake Paul face off.Credit: Getty Images
In his heyday, Tyson would have snapped Paul in half. However, Tyson’s pomp was so long ago that the bookies have installed Paul as the overwhelming favourite.
This bizarre event prompts so many questions. Is “Iron” Mike Tyson capable of producing one, last devastating knockout? Can Jake Paul actually box? Is it wrong that I’m so looking forward to this?
We’ll soon answer all of those questions and more, so pass the popcorn and enjoy all the vaudeville action!
Taylor is wobbly
Plenty of outstanding action in the opening round between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano.
Serrano has left her mark early, landing a vicious left-hook late in the round (she’s a southpaw). Taylor recovered in the second round, she’s found her legs after looking shaky early.
This is scheduled for 10 rounds, but will it go the distance?
Pass the gorgonzola
They say everything is bigger in Texas, and here’s the proof.
The event is being held at the home of the Dallas Cowboys, hence their world-famous cheerleaders opened proceedings to Thunderstruck. Apparently they are also the subject of a documentary on Netflix, in further proof that there’s nothing that can’t be packaged and cross-promoted.
Just when you think this thing couldn’t get any cheesier, another layer of gorgonzola is added when one of the commentators says: “It’s time for Netflix and thrill.”
Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders go through one of their routines.
Oh momma.
But perhaps my favourite moment so far was when Evander Holyfield, who famously defeated Mike Tyson, was part of the commentary panel. They kept asking him questions, but he couldn’t hear his colleagues.
Perhaps because Tyson bit his ear off?
It’s a Knox-out
A 58-year- old taking on a YouTuber, on Netflix.
Click here to read what esteemed colleague Malcolm Knox makes of it all …
Just one more fight before Tyson-Paul …
And it’s an absolute ripper.
We are now up to the main undercard fight at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. It’s a rematch between the best female fighters in the world, Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano.
Just one more fight before Tyson-Paul.Credit: Getty Images
Their first battle was an instant classic, with Taylor winning by split decision. She will now put her IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO women’s super-lightweight titles on the line.
‘Iron’ Mike in da house
Everything you need to know, right here …
In case you missed it, click here for a piece I wrote with all the lowdown …
Who is Jake Paul?
Jake Paul is a professional boxer who rose to fame as a social media star. By the time he was 16 years old, he had 5.3 million followers and more than two billion views online. He launched his own YouTube channel and fell into boxing when he challenged a rival influencer in the ring in 2018.
Paul has compiled a professional record of 10 wins (seven knockouts) and one loss. The most impressive scalp is a win over former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, albeit Silva was 47 at the time.
Jake Paul’s boxing career hasn’t been fully embraced by the sport.Credit: Getty
This is a no-lose situation for Paul. If he gets knocked out by Mike Tyson, he’ll be able to say, “I got knocked out by Mike Tyson.” If he wins, he’ll be able to say, “I beat Mike Tyson”, albeit Paul wouldn’t have laid a glove on him in his pomp.
And then there’s also the small matter of the $US40 million that Paul is likely to rake in as a result of this venture.
Why are we watching this?
Very early on in my journalistic career, a wise, old editor once told me, “Nobody wants to read about the plane that landed.”
We are tuning into this thing because it has the potential to crash and burn.
Tyson has become a caricature of himself, almost indistinguishable from Drederick Tatum, the Simpson character he inspired.
“I think he’s a good man,” Tatum says of opponent Homer Simpson. “I like him. I got nothing against him, but I’m definitely gonna make orphans of his children.”
In recent years, Tyson has invested more time in his cannabis business than the business of dishing out pain. However, there are plenty of nostalgic fight fans hoping that the old man can land one on the chin of the shameless self-promoter.
It’s ‘fight’ night!
Hello fight fans, and to all those just tuning in because you like a good circus.
We are covering the “fight” between heavyweight legend Mike Tyson, making his professional boxing comeback at the age of 58, and influencer-cum-boxer Jake Paul.
It’s often said that “styles make fights”, but I can’t ever recall anything quite like this. In one corner you’ve got Tyson, “The Baddest Man on the Planet”, making a professional return after almost two decades out of the ring. In the other is Paul, who has probably made just as much money by uploading video pranks onto YouTube.
Mike Tyson and Jake Paul face off.Credit: Getty Images
In his heyday, Tyson would have snapped Paul in half. However, Tyson’s pomp was so long ago that the bookies have installed Paul as the overwhelming favourite.
This bizarre event prompts so many questions. Is “Iron” Mike Tyson capable of producing one, last devastating knockout? Can Jake Paul actually box? Is it wrong that I’m so looking forward to this?
We’ll soon answer all of those questions and more, so pass the popcorn and enjoy all the vaudeville action!
