Mike Tyson returns to the boxing world this Friday, but not as a fighter. The former heavyweight champion will serve as a guest analyst for the Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves card in Times Square. This marks Tyson's first public appearance in the sport since his controversial exhibition fight with Jake Paul last November.
At 58, Tyson has stepped away from competitive boxing. His last bout against Paul in Texas went the distance and drew massive viewership, with an average of 60 million households tuning in and peaking at 65 million. The fight proved lucrative for both men, with Tyson pocketing $20 million and Paul earning double that amount.
After the fight, Paul shared his thoughts on facing the boxing legend:
"After I'd seen him tired I didn't want to put too much hurt on him, but I wanted the fans to get a good experience. But there was a point where my aggression and violence went away when I wasn't getting hit. I love Mike."
Since then, Tyson has faced health challenges. He experienced a terrifying ulcer flare-up mid-flight that nearly cost him his life, requiring eight blood transfusions. In a recent interview with Men's Health, Tyson joked, "The only person I'm fighting now is my accountant."
While Tyson takes on analyst duties, the Fatal Fury card promises some exciting matchups. Ryan Garcia will face Rolly Romero, while Devin Haney takes on Jose Ramirez. Teofimo Lopez defends his WBO super lightweight title against Arnold Barboza Jr. The event will also feature the professional debut of Reito Tsutsumi against Levale Whittington.
As for Jake Paul, he's set his sights on a new opponent. The YouTuber-turned-boxer, coming off a TKO victory over Mike Perry, is expected to face Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in a cruiserweight bout later this year.
Chavez Jr., son of Mexican boxing icon Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., has had a rollercoaster career. Once a middleweight champion with an impressive 46-0-1 record by 2012, he's struggled in recent years, losing six of his next 14 bouts. His notable fights include losses to Canelo Alvarez and Sergio Martinez. In 2021, he even lost to former UFC star Anderson Silva.
However, Chavez Jr. recently picked up a win over Uriah Hall on a Jake Paul undercard earlier this year, setting the stage for their potential showdown.
As the boxing world evolves, it's clear that Tyson's influence remains strong, even from outside the ring. His analysis at the Fatal Fury event will undoubtedly draw attention from fans and fighters alike.
