In combat sports, predicting how a fight will end is hard. A barrage of punches followed by a killing blow elates everyone. But what if it’s a legend of the sport who hits the canvas? What if it’s a sporting icon you have followed and admired your whole life? It’s fair if fans might find it hard to imagine Jake Paul taking out Mike Tyson with a KO. But the possibility is still very real.

Well, boxing is a contest, and the applause belongs to the last man standing, and there are chances that might be ‘The Problem Child’. The boxing fans are yet to make peace with the announcement of their atrocious bout scheduled for July 20 at the 80,000-seat AT&T Stadium. Despite the much-anticipated return of ‘Iron Mike’, heavy criticism surrounds the fight. How would the 57-year-old fare against a 30-year younger boxer? How does the 2024 Mike Tyson stand a chance against a more active Jake Paul?

Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson: a mismatch for money

The American influencer-turned-boxer has made drastic progress since making his pro debut 4 years ago. He is high on confidence after collecting two first-round KO wins against Andre August and, more recently, Ryan Bourland. Paul has polished his technique, added a jab to his arsenal, and increased the precision of his landing. Moreover, the 27-year-old knows how to throw a devastating knockout blow with his right hand.

Paul is younger, faster, and quicker compared to Tyson. There is a seeping fear among fans that Paul might plant the former champion on the canvas for good. The 9-1 record holder can defeat the boxing icon by rendering him unconscious. It’s a possibility and a real one too. Meanwhile, Tyson is currently a watered-down version of himself in his prime, which is what age does, even to the best of them.

The former two-time heavyweight champion is much older and has had trouble with stamina. He lost three of his last four pro fights and stepped into the square circle against Roy Jones Jr. in 2020. Besides being old and inactive, Tyson’s stamina and his not-so-sturdy chin scream trouble for the American legend and his fans, which also led to his defeats against Kevin McBride, Danny Williams, Evander Holyfield, and James Douglas during his days.

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Despite Tyson boasting vicious knockout power and vast experience, how could you expect a man closing on to 60 to have punch resistance, irrespective of the opponent facing him? In addition, Nakisa Bidarian, MVP’s co-founder alongside Paul, has revealed that neither fighter would wear headgear during fight night. So what saves Tyson if Paul evades the fight for the first couple of rounds to exploit Tyson’s diminished stamina and ebbed-out footwork? And that’s not it. Tyson has health issues to iron out too.

‘Iron Mike’: canes, wheelchairs and the never-fading charm of boxing

As the announcement of Tyson facing Paul seized headlines, photos of him walking with a cane at a UFC event and using a wheelchair at an airport made the rounds on the internet. These visuals alarmed the fans and raised concerns for the former heavyweight champion. Not only does Tyson have a hip issue, but he also suffers from sciatica, a nerve-impacting condition. When it flares up, it leaves ‘Kid Dynamite’ with pain in the lower body, and he even fails to talk.

When Evander Holyfield, aged 58 in 2021, stepped into the boxing ring against Vitor Belfort, he was slammed face flat to the canvas in the first round. A similar fate might befall Tyson if he is not careful. However, Tyson is still the ‘baddest man on the planet’, and as evident from his recent training clips, he has enough left in his tank to hold his ground against a younger foe. His one-punch knockout power might drop Paul to the mat. But a similar case could be made vice-versa. It remains to be seen who will come out on top.

What do you make of this upcoming fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson? Do you believe the crossover boxer will slam the former youngest heavyweight champion to the canvas? Let us know in the comments below.

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