ARLINGTON, Texas — Mike Tyson flashed his bare butt while being interviewed on a Netflix livestream before his fight.
This is fitting, since he later blamed himself when he got in the ring.
Tyson was launched in 2005. In 2024, he's just embarrassing himself.
Father time is real. When you reach the age of 58, your boxing ability declines.
Who would have thought?
Tyson fought his first sanctioned professional bout in 19 years and was dominated by 27-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul on Friday night at AT&T Stadium.
Paul won by unanimous decision 80-72, 79-73, 79-73, but most of the excitement came during the walkover.
This was a cash heist disguised as a professional sporting event.
It turned out to be the most expected boring gimmick. Why should anything else be expected?
“I didn't prove anything to anyone, only to myself,” Tyson said after the fight. “I'm not a person who tries to please the world. I'm just happy with what I can do.”
Of course, Tyson lost three of his last four fights before retiring in 2005.
Going back even further, until Friday's game, he had won only five of his last 12 games.
He was terrible in the ring, and he admitted as much after his loss to Kevin McBride.
“I don't have the courage to participate in this sport anymore,” Tyson said after the 2005 fight. “I don't want to disrespect the sport I love. My heart is not in this anymore. I feel sorry for the fans who paid. I should have done better. It's time for me to move on with my life and become a father and take care of my children.”
Nineteen years later, Tyson's mettle and heart miraculously did not recover. If he thought he was disrespecting boxing in 2005, he's now taking it to a sad new level.
Check out the Post's coverage of the Paul vs. Tyson fight
Tyson fell to 50-7-2, while Paul improved his record to 11-1.
“He's exactly what I thought he would be,” Paul said after the game. “He's an icon. He's a legend.
“We wanted to give the fans a show,” Paul added. “But I didn't want to hurt anyone who didn't need to be hurt.”
Tyson came out swinging aggressively and quickly cornered Paul in the first round.
But by the second round, Tyson was breathing heavily, and by the third, Paul became aggressive, landing several big left hooks.
Tyson was slow, barely able to move or avoid the onslaught of Paul, who sat like a duck in the center of the ring.
He had no legs and lost his balance every time he was touched.
Tyson hardly threw any punches after the first round. Paul threw 278 punches and landed 78 of them, while Tyson threw 97 punches and landed only 18.
Despite being the underdog in the betting, Tyson was the clear favorite at the stadium. While Paul was booed relentlessly, he was greeted like a hero.
But fans left Friday night with a disappointing image of what was once one of the world's biggest superstars. Tyson, once one of the most feared men in the world, leaves a strong impression if this is the last time he steps into the ring, losing to the social media celebrity who took up boxing only a few years ago. That's going to happen.
By the end, 72,300 fans booed both fighters for the lack of action.
Yes, this match will be a financial success. Tyson is expected to earn around $20 million and Paul is expected to bring in $40 million.
The gate (money earned from ticket sales) exceeded $17.8 million, making it the largest boxing gate outside of Las Vegas in U.S. history.
Absurdity sells. But was it worth being laughed at?
Even fewer rounds and bigger gloves, all the provisions designed to protect Tyson, could not help the former champion.
No matter how handcuffed he was, it was clear that the old man was not fit for a fight.
And if Paul thinks this will help people take him seriously as a boxer, he should think again.
When asked if Tyson was ready to retire from the ring for good, he replied, “I don't think so.” “perhaps [I’ll fight] It's his younger brother. ”
No thank you after Friday's circus.
