That headline felt like sacrilege to type, but unfortunately I think that’s how Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson will play out next Friday, November 15th.

Tyson and Paul have done a good job of promoting their fight and making it seem like it will be a competitive affair, but men’s matches aside, I think this is a glaring mismatch.

I believe Paul TKO’s Tyson in the early rounds, possibly against the ropes if 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, noting that old ‘Iron’ Mike is back for one final showcase. What many don’t consider, however, is the editing and fast pace of his highlight videos. Most of his camp highlights last just a few seconds, giving the impression that the 58-year-old fighting veteran has some semblance of professional-level staying power.

Tyson bedridden from exercising four years ago

When we see Tyson in a long training video, he takes long breaks between workouts. Nearly 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 at a time. How about fighting eight rounds against a 27-year-old with bottomless pockets and the best training money money can buy?

It’s not a matter of Tyson reconnecting with his prime, because he literally can’t. Neck and back problems have plagued an older Tyson; he was even hospitalized with a flare-up of an ulcer when the original Paul fight was booked last year.

We’ve seen an old Tyson fight before

There would be no questions about the outcome of this fight if it weren’t for Tyson’s age. The 54-year-old Tyson fought Roy Jones Jr. in 2020. and he didn’t look that great…

Tyson looked stiff, winging punches and smothering 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 their 2023 boxing match.

And before anyone considers Tyson’s status as a legend, we saw 60-year-old Evander Holyfield destroyed in 2021 by over-the-hill MMA fighter Vitor Belfort.

It is within the selfish nature of a fight fan to see legends of the sport lace up the gloves one last time. Unfortunately, the only acceptable context for this to happen is when they’re fighting a fellow legend of the same age.

The problem with Paul’s decision to fight Tyson is that it contradicts the narrative Paul was trying to build when he said he was going to take the hard road to a legitimate world boxing title. How does taking out a 58-year-old cult icon fit into that plan? If Paul beats Tyson, he multiplies his hatred tenfold, and if he loses, all his appeal is gone.

After all, why do people tune in to Jake Paul fights if they don’t want to see him lose?

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