Mike Tyson, the former heavyweight boxing champion, has been consistently linked to a potential fight against Jake Paul, a popular internet personality and boxer, since the latter’s entrance into the professional boxing arena a few years ago. However, despite the persistent rumors, Tyson has categorically denied the possibility of fighting Paul or anyone else, stating that he is content to simply relax and enjoy his retirement.
In 2020, Tyson returned to the ring after a lengthy absence to face off against fellow hall of famer Roy Jones Jr in an exhibition match at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles. The bout was declared a split decision draw, although many observers felt that Tyson had performed better on the night.
Coincidentally, Paul had fought on the undercard of the event, where he knocked out former professional basketball player Nate Robinson in his second professional bout. The video of the brutal knockout went viral, furthering the hype surrounding the Ohio native’s burgeoning boxing career.
After winning his next four fights in a row, Paul suffered his first loss earlier this year when he was outpointed by Tommy Fury at the Diriyah Arena in Saudi Arabia. Despite being docked a point and suffering a late knockdown, Fury managed to secure a split decision win over Paul.
There had been reports that Paul would activate a contractual rematch clause following his defeat, but news on this front has since gone quiet. It remains to be seen who Paul and Tyson will face in their next fights, but for now, Tyson seems content to simply enjoy his retirement while Paul looks to bounce back from his first professional loss.
