Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul: Was It Really That Ridiculous?

We all knew what to expect from Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul—yet we still had to watch it unfold. It was the kind of fight that you knew would spark opinions, and Netflix cashed in all night on it, proving just how much of a pop-culture icon Tyson remains, even at 58. Sure, the fight wasn’t great, but some of the criticism of Mike’s performance is unfair. Most of the people reading this are guys aged 22-37—let’s be honest, Tyson would still smoke most of you. This isn’t for the fans out there grinding at the gym daily, but for those watching from the couch: show some respect. Tyson’s already proven himself more times than most.

What’s really impressive is how Tyson has remained relevant for new generations. At his age, he’s in phenomenal shape, and he came back to do what he loves. He fought, stayed safe, put on a show, and walked away with over $20 million for eight rounds. If anything, Jake should’ve been able to knock him out, but I think he was playing it safe, avoiding any risk of Tyson landing one of his signature power punches. Mike had that “one-shot power,” like the Hyper Beam move in Pokémon—you launch it, then need a second to recharge. But Jake didn’t seem willing to test that and risk getting hit.

Reports say around 60 million people tuned in worldwide, and my social media has been blowing up with reactions ever since. Even if the fight was underwhelming, it wasn’t due to a lack of effort from Tyson but more Jake’s hesitation to go for the finish. That said, I’m increasingly impressed with Jake’s progress as a boxer. He’s more strategic and comfortable in the ring, and I’ll keep watching as he grows. When he finally takes on a seasoned pro, he might just be ready.

Jake's improvement is clear, but he’s still lacking the extensive experience that seasoned boxers have—guys who start with 100+ amateur fights and years of training. For now, fighting others at his level makes sense. Could Jake beat someone like Anderson Silva in a full-contact MMA fight? No way. But in a boxing ring, it’s a different story.

Let’s be real: boxing is losing ground to sports like UFC, Karate Combat, ONE Championship, and other combat leagues. Jake Paul might not be the best boxer out there, but he’s drawing huge attention to the sport. Say what you will, but he’s putting young, hungry boxers on his undercards, giving them a massive platform that many dream about. Far from “ruining” boxing, he’s actually helping it in ways. Plenty of fighters would jump at the chance to be on one of his cards—and honestly, so would I. I’d love to get in there, put on a show, and get paid.

Is Jake really hurting boxing? Or is he part of its revival? For all the criticism, it’s worth asking if he’s not just a new kind of contender but boxing’s unlikely savior.