Why does 58-year-old marijuana magnate Mike Tyson think he can beat active boxer Jake Paul, who is 21 years younger than him?
“Can I be honest with you?” Tyson asked rhetorically in a recent interview with Esquire magazine. “I don't think he could hurt me.”
Due to a recurrence of his ulcer, the fight with Paul has been postponed from this Saturday until November 15, when the former YouTuber will face boxer-turned-Mike Perry instead.
Either way, Iron Mike's confidence remains strong. Asked to compare his November comeback to his 1988 victory over a 38-year-old Larry Holmes, Tyson refused to even think about it. At just 21 years old, Tyson was already the unified heavyweight champion and entered the bout with a perfect 32-0 record.
“Larry Holmes is a legendary fighter who fought active champions throughout his life,” Tyson said. “I'm fighting a YouTuber… It doesn't matter how seriously he takes it. He is who he is.”
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The 58-year-old Tyson is clearly a different man to the man who knocked out legendary boxer Holmes in four rounds and turned him into mincemeat at the Atlantic City Convention Hall in 1988.
“I'm an old man,” he admitted in an interview with Esquire magazine, while his wife, Kiki, reminded the Brooklyn native to stay hydrated during training.
“Baby,” Kiki cried, “drink more electrolytes than usual!”
But despite approaching 60 and spending most of his time promoting his cannabis company and doing podcasts, Tyson has been a regular at the gym lately. He finished to a draw with fellow older boxer Roy Jones Jr. in 2020 and has since been impressing social media audiences with captivating edits of his training footage.
Paul has arguably been more active, going 9-1 since turning professional in 2020 and defeating a number of notable former UFC champions in crossover boxing matches.
There's also no debate: He's been very selective in his opponents. His first bout was against an experienced boxer, and he's yet to face any real talent in the ring, with his only loss coming in a split decision to Tommy Fury in 2023. Even Saturday's bout in Tampa will see Paul facing a boxer-turned-fighter who hasn't put on gloves since 2015.
Though he's been busy in the ring and making millions from his own promotions, it's been less than a decade since he began his career as a YouTuber, musician and Disney Channel star. He didn't grow up in the ring like Tyson did, growing up in trainer Cus D'Amato's home in Catskill, New York.
Plus, Tyson has some advantages: It's an eight-round fight instead of 12, and each frame is two minutes instead of three, giving the 58-year-old a chance to conserve his energy and use it at the right moment.
For some, the question arises as to why Tyson is so hung up on Paul.
“My wife keeps saying, 'You don't have to do that. You don't have to do that,' and I'm like, 'No, you have to do this,'” Tyson told Esquire magazine, stressing that the multi-million-dollar prize “wouldn't change my life financially.”
“I'm a glory junkie. I love having people think about me all day long,” Tyson said. “I'd rather live a short life full of glory than a long, obscure one. That's just who I am.”
