Boxer and Youtuber Jake Paul called boxing legend Mike Tyson to a fight after being in retirement since 2005. After the event, fans took to social media to say it was scripted for Paul to win after being angered from an “unfair” fight.
Due to the controversy surrounding this situation, this fight became one of the biggest fights in boxing history. There were around 60 million people either watching at their homes or in the stadium with them, according to CNN.
The match between the two was supposed to take place in late July, until Tyson had a health scare on the way to Los Angeles. Due to this, he stepped away from training for a few weeks to gain back his full ability and the fight was postponed until November. Some fans say because of this health scare and the immense age difference between the boxers – Paul is 27, and Tyson is 58 – the fight was unfair and that it was scripted for Paul to win the entire time.
Senior Matthew Carico had a lot to say about this situation being on Tyson’s side, saying, “Tyson lost most of his physical ability but can still punch harder than the average person. His stamina and speed [aren’t] the same. Although I really wanted the underdog to win, the odds weren’t in his favor. Therefore, the fight was just for money and it was depressing to see Tyson not in his prime anymore. But age is inevitable and [losing is] bound to happen sometimes.”
Another student, sophomore Stanley Wood, says he “thought it was a setup,” and along with Carico, thinks that the fight was extremely unfair, or a money grab. The sophomore doesn’t think it was a necessary fight and that Paul only likes to fight guys “who are past their prime, to raise not only his ego, but his reputation.”
