Mike Tyson's Return to the Ring at 58 Sparks Debate
Boxing Legend Faces Off Against Jake Paul in Netflix-Backed Fight
In a highly anticipated comeback, 58-year-old boxing legend Mike Tyson is set to return to the ring nearly two decades after retiring.
The match, organized by Netflix, features Tyson facing 27-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul at AT&T Stadium in Texas.
Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion in history in 1986 at age 20 but retired in 2005.
He recently fought Roy Jones Jr. in a 2020 exhibition match.
This fight, unlike the Jones event, is not an exhibition but a fully sanctioned bout.
Despite criticism and health concerns due to his age and past medical issues, Tyson is pursuing this fight, reportedly earning $20 million, while Paul is set to make $40 million.
Experts like promoter Eddie Hearn and Stephen Hughes from Anglia Ruskin University have voiced concerns, citing Tyson's age and potential health risks.
In response, Tyson remains confident, emphasizing his readiness and dismissing critiques as jealousy.
Netflix aims to leverage this high-profile event as part of its sports streaming strategy, with a large audience both in-stadium and online.