Mike Tyson and Jake Paul's recent boxing match in Texas has stirred up quite a buzz. The fight, which took place last month, saw the 58-year-old former undisputed heavyweight champion face off against the 27-year-old Paul in an eight-round bout.
Paul won the fight by unanimous decision. The young boxer cruised to victory while Tyson showed signs of his age and couldn't put his inexperienced opponent in any real danger.
Tyson recently appeared on FOX Sports Radio and shared his hazy recollection of the event.
"I don't remember the fight that much, I kind of blanked out a little … No I have not watched the fight … Know what I remember? Coming back from the first round and then the next thing I remember Jake was doing some kind of, I don't know, a bow. And that's the last thing I remember. I thought he was gonna hit me, I thought what the hell is he doing?"
The match has faced accusations of being scripted or rigged, with critics like Oscar De La Hoya and Carl Froch voicing their doubts. Tyson, when asked to clear up these rumors, simply stated, "It was a real fight."
Most Valuable Promotions, the company behind the event, strongly refuted these claims. They issued a statement explaining:
"Rigging a professional boxing match is a federal crime in the United States of America. Paul vs. Tyson was a professional match sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR). Both fighters in good faith performed to the best of their abilities with the goal of winning the fight. There were absolutely no restrictions – contractual or otherwise around either fighter. Each boxer was able to use his full arsenal to win the fight. Any agreement to the contrary would violate TDLR boxing rules."
The promoters added that suggesting anything less than full effort from the fighters is not only naive but insulting to their hard work and the sport itself.
Despite the controversy, the event was incredibly successful. However, Tyson has since announced his retirement from boxing for good, admitting he felt "kind of depressed" after the highs of the record-breaking event.
The match between Tyson and Paul will likely be remembered as a unique moment in boxing history, blending generations and stirring up discussions about the nature of exhibition fights in the sport.
