Mike Tyson steps back into the ring this month to face Jake Paul in a high-profile exhibition fight that's got everyone talking.
Tyson, now 58, hung up his gloves professionally back in 2005 after losing to Kevin McBride. At the time, he said fighting wasn't in his heart anymore. He did return for an exhibition bout with Roy Jones Jr in 2020, but that was more of a spectacle than a competitive match.
On the other side of the ring, Jake Paul has carved out his own unique spot in boxing. He's 30 years younger than Tyson and has made a name for himself fighting mostly former UFC fighters in lucrative events. Paul's only lost once, to Tommy Fury, who's a more traditional boxer.
The age gap between these two fighters is huge. When Tyson retired, Paul was just 8 years old. That's why a lot of people in boxing are worried about what might happen when a 58-year-old Tyson faces off against someone three decades his junior.
Robert Garcia, who trains top fighters like Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez and Vergil Ortiz Jr, shared his thoughts with Fight Hub TV. He doesn't think it'll be a real fight.
"It's a great event but honestly, to me, it's just a show. It's like people paying their tickets to watch Royal Rumble. Tyson's almost 60. His last couple of performances as a professional fighter were not very good. It's going to be a performance for entertainment. I doubt it'll be a real fight. I suspect they might stage it for a good show. A 60-year-old can't be fighting anymore."
The official rules say there'll be eight two-minute rounds with 14-ounce gloves. Knockdowns and knockouts are allowed, and the result will go on both fighters' professional records.
No matter what happens, this fight's sure to get a lot of attention. But whether it'll be a competitive match or just a show for the fans remains to be seen.
