Why Jake Paul will destroy Mike Tyson

This headline felt like sacrilege, but unfortunately I think that’s how Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson will turn out this Friday, November 15th.

Tyson and Paul did a good job of pushing their fight forward and giving the impression that it would be a competitive affair, but gentleman’s agreements aside, I think this is a glaring mismatch.

I believe Paul Tyson is knocked out in the early rounds, possibly against the ropes, when the referee mercifully intervenes. I don’t like it and I want the opposite to happen, but here’s my logic.

Misleading editing in Tyson training videos

Quite often we see Tyson’s training footage making the rounds, with a flood of positive affirmations in the comments saying that the old “Iron” Mike is back for one final show. What many people don’t take into account, however, is the editing and the fast editing speed of his highlight videos. Most of his training camp highlights last just seconds, giving the impression that the 58-year-old fight veteran has even a semblance of pro-level endurance.

Tyson was bedridden from training 4 years ago

When we see Tyson in a long training video, he takes long breaks between training sessions. Almost four years ago, before Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr., Tyson admitted that a 30-second training video left him in bed for a week. Do we think much has changed now that he is almost 60?

Yes, he looks good for five seconds. How about an eight-round fight against a 27-year-old with bottomless pockets and the best training money can buy?

This isn’t about Tyson getting back to his prime because he literally can’t. Neck and back problems have plagued an older Tyson; He was even hospitalized with an ulcer flare-up when the original Paul fight was booked last year.

We’ve seen an old Tyson fight before

Without Tyson’s age, there would be no questions about the outcome of this fight. Tyson, 54, fought Roy Jones Jr. in 2020 and he didn’t look too good…

Tyson looked stiff, lashing out and suffocating his work. This was against an old Jones Jr., Jake Paul is 30 years younger than Tyson. Jones Jr. also lost to former UFC lightweight Anthony Pettis in his 2023 boxing match.

And before anyone brings up Tyson’s legendary status, we saw 60-year-old Evander Holyfield get destroyed by towering MMA fighter Vitor Belfort in 2021.

It’s in the selfish nature of a fight fan to see the legends of the sport lace up the gloves one last time. Unfortunately, the only acceptable context for this is that they are fighting a legend of their own age.

The problem with Paul’s decision to fight Tyson is that it runs counter to the narrative Paul wanted to build when he said he would take the hard route to a legitimate world boxing title. How does knocking out a 58-year-old cult icon fit into this plan? If Paul beats Tyson, his hatred increases tenfold, and if he loses, all his appeal is lost.

After all, why do people watch Jake Paul’s fights if not to see him lose?

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