Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul Fight
By: Padraig Smith
In a heated and controversial fight former professional heavyweight champion Mike Tyson entered the ring against Jake ‘The Problem Child’ Paul. Tyson was almost sixty years old facing the young twenty-seven-year-old Jake Paul. This fight was nowhere near close as Mike Tyson could barely land blows to Jake, whose youthful athleticism and modern training gave him an edge in this bout. Tyson had barely been in the ring for years while Jake has been extremely active in the boxing scene as of late. This fight was unbelievably uneven, especially regarding age leading to its condemnation.
Boxing is a physically demanding sport and requires you to be in peak condition particularly when it comes to stamina, endurance, and speed. Tyson was undoubtedly an incredible and lights-out boxer in his prime but he’s now in his late 50s. His career is built on his explosive power and uncanny reflexes, but those abilities don’t last forever and fade fast with age. Jake Paul on the other hand is in the prime of his athletic career. Jake had the upper hand in terms of recovery time and stamina. Age is undeniably a significant factor in boxing and is shown in the history of the sport time and time again. One of the biggest examples of all time is the legendary Muhammad Ali vs. Larry Holmes in 1980. This fight would become one of if not the most tragic of all examples of how seriously age can affect a fighter’s performance. Ali was 38 years old come this fight and despite being one of the greatest and fastest fighters of all time couldn’t keep up with the agile Holmes. This fight alone is used as an example of a fighter staying in the sport past his prime and past what his physical ability could handle. But it all came full circle when Tyson fought Holmes who was 38 years old the same as Ali all those years ago. Tyson got his revenge for Ali by absolutely annihilating the old and weakened Holmes. I’m afraid this fight will most likely fall into those same columns as all the others in this never-ending circle. Mike Tyson’s head was also just not in the right state for that kind of mental and physical challenge. It was evident when Tyson stumbled his way out of the locker room that something was clearly off.
The mental game is a huge component of a fighter’s preparation and can make or break their performance. Jake Paul being a social media personality and influencer has had to deal with his mental state since day one. But in terms of boxing Paul has demonstrated a mental toughness throughout the majority of his career. His confidence was an essential component of this fight. Jake’s mental stability lent him an edge over Tyson who has had a rocky relationship with his mental game. Throughout his long career, Tyson’s anger and violent outbursts in the ring were self-destructive. While it provided at times great offense it was terrible and counter-effective for his defense. Tyson has had struggles with his control, motivation, and his mindset, and against Jake Paul, he was not mentally put together. Tyson as mentioned has had this problem before in his fight with Buster Douglas in 1990. One of the most famous upsets in history as Mike Tyson was considered invincible and was undefeated at the time. But Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the widely considered underdog Douglas. Tyson’s prior lack of focus and poor mental state was the primary reason for this shocking defeat. The same case applies to his fight with Jake Paul he simply didn’t have his head in the right space to perform at such a level. Tyson also looked unusually slower than his normal self in this wide-streamed event.
One of the most critical aspects of a boxer’s chances in the ring relies on their speed and reflexes. Tyson in his prime was defined by his ability to close the distance quickly and land punches with incredible precision. His slip attacks and agility made him a formidable opponent. However, as with all things age causes an inevitable decline which is unfortunately true for Mike Tyson. Jake Paul was able to take advantage of his quicker reflexes and explosive movements to overwhelm Tyson. Jake’s superior footwork helped him avoid the few punches Tyson threw his way keeping him safe from those still dangerous haymakers. Tyson suffered the same fate as Roy Jones Jr. in his fight against Antonio Tarver in 2004. Roy Jones Jr. was at one point considered one of the greatest pound–for–pound boxers. But due to a few years of inactivity and poor aging Jones would lose to Tarver. His speed and reflexes had diminished over time and allowed for Tarver to a land-crushing left hook in the second round. Similarly, Mike Tyson’s years spent out of the ring and drastically poor aging and health caused him various problems in this frustrating match.
Mike Tyson was undoubtedly one of the greatest boxers in history, but the sad reality of aging dragged the king down. Tyson’s declining stamina, speed, and recent lack of experience gave Jake Paul a lackluster path to victory. Paul found a significant weakness that he exploited for his gain. His youth and mental toughness played a key role in granting him the win over such an infamous opponent. It was a sad and defeating loss for Mike Tyson but there is merit to be found in the fact that the 58-year-old went 8 rounds with someone more than thirty years younger than him. That alone is a huge accomplishment for a man his age and something to be proud of. Despite the crushing loss, Mike Tyson will forever remain one of the greatest boxers and athletes to ever exist.
