Mike Tyson is one of the greatest boxers ever. But on the 15th of November, Jake Paul was facing a 58-year-old version of Tyson. His fans, such as NBA legend Magic Johnson, were hoping his skills as a boxer would overcome his age. Those hopes became higher when videos of his workouts did the rounds.
It was to the extent that Jake Paul himself mentioned that it was scary witnessing the multiple championship winning boxer take this fight seriously. Tyson’s sparring sessions added to the notion that the YouTuber had no chance.
The hype ahead of the Netflix streamed fight was such that the streaming giant struggled with buffering issues. But no one struggled more than Tyson himself as he could not use the quickness and power of old to inflict damage on Paul.
He looked slow and unable to gather the energy to land a proper punch or two. At the same time, thirty-one years younger than him Paul, landed quite a few jabs despite his lack of elite boxing skills. For Magic Johnson though, it was a bit too much to take.
Just sad smh. I cut it off because I couldn’t watch anymore. It’s sad to see Mike Tyson like this because I went to every Tyson fight. This fight tonight was not great for boxing.
Magic Johnson wrote on X
Just sad smh. I cut it off because I couldn’t watch anymore. It’s sad to see Mike Tyson like this because I went to every Tyson fight.
This fight tonight was not great for boxing.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) November 16, 2024
His words suggest that he was disappointed with two aspects. One was watching the once great Mike Tyson looking like a shell of himself. The other was that this fight was not good for boxing. As a boxing fan, he probably felt the fight was not equal and hence could give off the wrong notion to new fans.
Stephen A. Smith adds to Magic Johnson’s words
There were many that echoed what the five-time NBA champion wrote. Longtime sports analyst Stephen A. Smith for instance, has seen a lot of fights to know what Mike Tyson was capable off. He watched as the 58-year-old boxer could not get anything going in the later rounds.
Love Mike Tyson. Always have, always will. But 58 is 58. Plus, the legs just wasn’t there. Old is old. Thank God he didn’t get knocked out.
Stephen A. Smith chimed in on X
Love @MikeTyson. Always have, always will. But 58 is 58. Plus the legs just wasn’t there. Old is old. Thank God he didn’t get knocked out. Now it’s time for @jakepaul to get in the ring with a Top-10 fighter — or Hell, a Champion. No more BBall players, strikers from MMA, or old…
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) November 16, 2024
Stephen A. Smith himself is 57 years old. As someone who recently worked his way back into fitness, he knows what goes into it. But at the same time, he also knows what his limits are when playing a sport at this age.
However, Tyson deserves some credit for lasting the full eight rounds despite his struggles. He could have ended it early, but continued to take the punishment, something that goes with his character. But for the likes of Johnson and Smith, they rather not see this happen again.
