Mike Tyson recently harshly criticized the world's best boxers, including Terrence Crawford, for not being entertaining enough to cause hysteria because the box office money is all on fight night.
Ahead of his mega-fight with Jake Paul, Tyson appeared on the Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios podcast and gave his thoughts on the state of boxing today.
The former undisputed heavyweight champion said today's elite champions lack what it takes to sufficiently excite fans and earn top dollar in ticket sales.
“A boxing fight with Terrence Crawford, Errol Spence. He's the best fighter in the world, but he can't get 5,000 people together,” Tyson exaggerated, saying the fighters were just like him and his contemporaries. He explained in detail the reasons that are preventing this type of customer from attracting customers.
“It has to be interesting. It has to be exciting. The best fighters in the world, like I said, can't beat anybody. They can beat anybody in the world. You can, but you can't draw 5,000 tickets because they're not fun. But the way they make money is because their opponents are so exciting and they have a huge following. I'm sure they're intentional, people who can punch them, but they look like shit. It's like watching grass grow.”
Tyson said that the fighters of the 1980s and 1990s were more attractive and that's why, when adjusted for today's economic climate, they took home higher purses than the earnings of today's big names.
There is some validity to his claims regarding the battle at the top in today's climate. Crawford's matchup with Spence was the most anticipated matchup of 2023. The match generated $21 million in gate revenue.
By comparison, Tyson's first match with Evander Holyfield was also the most hyped match that had been building for over five years while Tyson was serving a three-and-a-half year prison sentence. The fight brought in a then-record $14.2 million in gate receipts, which will reach $27.57 million in 2024.
Boxing is permeated not only by numbers but also by influencers who carve their own paths within the sport. Guys like Jake Paul and his brother Logan have created hype that resonates with their fan base despite their limited track record.
Tyson, 57, and Paul, 27, are gearing up for one of the most talked about bouts of the year, despite Tyson's advanced age and retirement 19 years ago, and Paul's rising star status. , his record lends credence to his comments, despite not having any notable opponents in his prime.