Jake Paul, a 27-year-old social media personality, triumphed over a 58-year-old man burdened with extensive health issues, both physical and mental, in a boxing match late on Saturday night. The fact that Mike Tyson was defeated so decisively on points was intended to lend Paul a semblance of credibility in the harsh world of boxing. However, this victory ultimately carried little weight. Tyson, the former world champion who, in the mid-to-late 1980s, instilled awe and fear as he dominated the heavyweight division, was now grappling with years of substance abuse, excessive drinking, and recent health complications including a bleeding stomach ulcer and acute sciatica. Two years ago, Tyson was in such pain that he required a wheelchair, and in May, he vomited so much blood on a flight that his scheduled bout with Paul had to be delayed by six months. He now appears to be struggling with a problematic right knee as well.
This was the opponent Paul faced in a disheartening and pitiful contest. The fight was reduced to eight rounds, each lasting only two minutes, providing a slight reprieve from the usual duration. Paul secured a unanimous decision with scores of 79-73, 79-73, and 80-72. The near-capacity crowd at the AT&T Stadium initially showed fierce support for Tyson. Ninety minutes before the fight, footage of Paul's arrival was met with a subdued response. However, when Tyson slowly made his way to his locker room, his jacket emblazoned with his iconic boxing alias, 'Iron Mike,' the crowd erupted in a huge and sustained roar, which was oddly moving.
The Paul brothers arrived at the ring in a customized Chevy low-rider, eschewing the traditional fighter's walk, to the tune of an outdated Phil Collins track. In contrast, Tyson made a somber, brooding entrance, wearing a stark black top in an attempt to evoke the menace that once defined him. This was the highlight of a long night for the once formidable Tyson, who looked aged and worn as he was introduced in the center of the ring. Tyson began with a modicum of intent, quickly landing a left and a glancing right on the retreating Paul. However, he was soon struck by a sharper right to the head, making it clear that any hope of Tyson summoning his former ferocity was a distant fantasy. The two-minute round concluded with Tyson, wearing a brace on his knee, attempting unsuccessfully to close the gap on a cheerfully retreating Paul.
The second round was marked by uninspired exchanges, with Tyson appearing devoid of genuine intent while Paul landed a few decent punches. Tyson soon found himself in trouble when he was rocked by a series of left hands. In his prime, Tyson would have been too fast and elusive for such predictable blows, slipping under them and punishing his opponent for their audacity. However, Tyson's speed and ring intelligence are long gone, and he absorbed the blows with a stoic resignation. Paul cruised through the remaining rounds with minimal effort. If he indeed earned $40 million from the fight, it must have felt easier than some of his teenage YouTube stunts that initially made him famous and wealthy.
Tyson had already contextualized the outcome and the absurd hype surrounding the event the previous night. During an interview with Jazlyn Guerra, a 14-year-old social media personality, Tyson was dismissive of the fight and his historical reputation. His words carried a dark irony, mocking his contest with a YouTuber. Guerra, an accomplished teenager, initially expressed enthusiasm for the bout after the weigh-in. She believed it would provide a monumental opportunity for kids her age to witness the legend Mike Tyson in the ring for the first time. She asked Tyson about the legacy he wished to leave behind after his career. Tyson paused before delivering a dark and grim truth. 'Well, I don't believe in the word 'legacy',' he said. 'I think that's just another word for 'ego.' Legacy means absolutely nothing to me. I'm just passing through. I'm gonna die and it's gonna be over. Who cares about legacy after that? We're nothing. We're dead. We're dust.' Guerra, to her credit, responded graciously. 'Well, thank you so much for sharing that,' she said. 'That's something I've not heard before.'
Tyson wasn't finished. 'Can you really imagine someone saying I want my legacy to be this way or that?' he continued bluntly. 'You're dead. What audacity is that – to want people to think about me when I am gone? Who the fuck cares about me?' It was difficult to care about anything related to this contrived show, except for a sincere hope that Tyson did not suffer significant damage from the blows he took. Walking out into the dark Texas night, away from such a cynical and manipulative business, felt like a liberating escape from the madness and sadness.
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