Mike Tyson's Continued Box Office Appeal Defies Age

Mike Tyson, who will be 58 years old, is set to face Jake Paul on July 20 in Texas. Despite his age, fans are eager to witness the former heavyweight champion in the ring.

The highly anticipated match between the legendary Tyson and the YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul will take place at the 80,000-seat AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The event will also be streamed live on Netflix for viewers to enjoy.

"I'm 58 years old, and guess what? I'm getting billions of views just by talking about fighting," Tyson shared with Reuters.

"It's funny how everyone, even some athletes, are jealous. I mean, come on, back in your prime, you couldn't even attract a million people or sell out an arena. Let's be real, who at 58 could fill up an 80,000-seat arena?"

Iron Mike, who has won 50 out of 56 matches with 44 knockouts, mentioned that the 27-year-old Paul understands that people are still interested in watching him fight. Tyson questioned why Paul chose to fight him instead of any other opponent, noting Paul's record of 9 wins and 1 loss with 6 knockouts.

"Everyone wants to challenge him, all the boxers want to challenge him. But if he did, only his fans would show up.

"The other fighters, their parents might not even bother to watch. Let's be honest. They're too dull for their kids to watch, it's like watching paint dry."

Tyson's upcoming fight will be his first since his exhibition bout with Roy Jones Jr. in November 2020, where Paul fought on the undercard. According to USA Today, although it has not been officially announced yet, the upcoming fight is also expected to be designated as an exhibition.

The rounds would be shortened to two minutes instead of the usual three. Boxers would use heavier gloves for added safety. There would be no official judges to score the rounds, meaning the only way to win is by knockout.

Editor's P/S:

The upcoming boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul has generated significant buzz, pitting a legendary veteran against a rising social media star. While Tyson's age and past accomplishments may evoke nostalgia, it's crucial to recognize that this fight is likely an exhibition, not a competitive bout. The shortened rounds, heavier gloves, and lack of judges indicate that it's more about entertainment than determining a winner.

Despite Tyson's playful jabs at Paul, it's undeniable that the YouTuber has attracted a massive following and sparked interest in boxing. Paul's record may not be as impressive as Tyson's, but he has shown determination and training in his previous fights. The fact that Tyson recognizes Paul's ability to fill an arena speaks volumes about the latter's influence on boxing's popularity, particularly among a younger audience.