As Adam Smith sat down with Ade Oladipo, the first thing they took up for discussion was the November 15 Mike Tyson–Jake Paul clash. Often called the ‘voice of boxing’, Smith, who had been battling cancer, stepped down from his role at Sky Sports last year. Now cancer-free, he returned to his passion: talking about boxing. Tyson and Paul square up at the famous Cowboy Stadium for a ten-round bout.

The professional match will be ‘Iron’ Mike’s first after the 2020 exhibition against Roy Jones Jr. ‘The Problem Child’, on the other hand, has taken long strides in the crossover boxing scene, achieving successive victories since his first loss to Tommy Fury last year. The lead-up to the fight has fueled a narrative that seemingly questions the matchup between a 58-year-old boxing great and a 27-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer. Concerns over Tyson’s health, especially the mid-flight ulcer flare that alarmed many, have been widespread. But despite these issues, the hype around the fight has surged tremendously. Like many, Adam Smith seems to have mixed feelings about the clash. However, he too can’t deny the level of excitement it has generated.

Adam Smith: Not entirely certain 

Ade Oladipo pointed at the upcoming fight. He wasn’t able to make much out of the Tyson-Paul faceoff. So he asked Adam Smith for his thoughts. The former head of boxing, Sky Sports, also sounded unsure. His thoughts took wings and went back to the days when he used to interact with a prime Mike Tyson.

“I worked with Mike at the beginning of my career. He was still very active and had some interesting conversations with Mike that I saw the good side and the bad side and some funny interviews with him and enjoyed his company,” he added. Like millions of fans across the globe, Adam Smith found himself captivated by ‘Iron’s Mike’s magnetic personality.

It was clear that Smith still treasures the meetings he had with Tyson. But to watch the same champion, who ruled boxing now stepping into the ring at an advanced age, was something unfathomable to Smith. “It is sad in many ways that he’s coming back at nearly 60,” he added.

Though it retains some worth

But the catch is there’s always this little ‘what will happen’ curiosity factor. Adam Smith said, “It’s one of those things that you just can’t take your eyes off; you’re going to watch it.” All things considered, he still seemed somewhat skeptical about the fight. Yet, in the same breath, he acknowledged that there’s an audience interested in watching the fight. So “it’s entertainment in quotes,” he highlighted.

Probably, Adam Smith may have hit a bullseye. One only needs to check the reactions on social media posts covering the co-main fight between champions Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano. Even Adam Smith couldn’t help but point, “I love the fact that Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano have got a terrific fight on the bill, so there is real boxing.”

What’s your take on Adam Smith’s observations? Do you agree with his perspective?