The world of boxing has always been a blend of sporting excellence and showmanship, but the proposed fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul pushed the latter to an uncomfortable extreme. When rumors surfaced that the legendary “Iron” Mike Tyson might step into the ring with the YouTube star turned boxer Jake Paul, fans were divided—but not in the way promoters hoped. Instead of excitement, the announcement was met with widespread disapproval and skepticism, raising questions about the sanctity of the sport and the motivations behind such a matchup.

At 58, Mike Tyson remains one of the most iconic figures in boxing history. His meteoric rise in the 1980s, marked by ferocious knockouts and a menacing aura, cemented his place as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. Jake Paul, on the other hand, is a self-proclaimed disruptor. The social media personality has carved a niche for himself in boxing, boasting a record of wins against former MMA fighters and athletes.

The idea of Paul taking on Tyson felt to many like a blatant cash grab, diluting the legacy of the former heavyweight champion and elevating Paul’s controversial rise. Fans were vocal about their disdain for the matchup from the moment whispers began circulating, particularly with the 30-year age gap between the two. Social media platforms were flooded with criticism, with many calling the potential fight a “gimmick” or a “mockery of the sport.” However, looking at the trend of his opponents it seems he has now found a new opponent, 71-year-old Albert Hughes.

The veteran boxer picked up a pair of gloves at the age of seventy and tried to do something in memory of his son. His son died just a few months earlier at 32 by taking his own life. But it seems the fans have found a new opponent for the 27-year-old former social media influencer. Paul has been often criticized for taking on fighters who are much older than his age and this time the fans want him to take on Hughes next.

Fans remind Jake Paul that he has found himself a new opponent in Albert Hughes

Jake Paul’s detractors, often accuse him of cherry-picking opponents to allow him to avoid truly challenging competition. Many pointed out the absurdity of a social media star attempting to trade blows with fighters not as renowned in his forte. The news of Albert Hughes knocking out Tramane Towns to break the Guinness World Record as the oldest ever person to complete a professional boxing bout has forced fans to recall Paul’s fight against Tyson last weekend, reminding them of the spectacle that left them disappointed on November 15th.

Jake Paul stepping into the ring with Mike Tyson was first floated. The incredulity stems from the sheer absurdity of matching an internet celebrity—despite his growing boxing résumé—with one of the sport’s all-time legends forced one of the users to comment, “Was that Jake Paul?”. Fans have noticed a trend in Jake Paul’s matchmaking strategy: targeting opponents who are either past their prime or outside the world of professional boxing. Keeping this trend in mind one user commented, “Jake’s team calls him out next week” 

Jake Paul has been perceived to inflate his accomplishments. One fan pointed out how Tyson celebrated his victory as he was in his prime, “So Mike must be up there in the top 10 and Jake celebrating like he beat a prime Mike”. One user pointed out how Paul’s team might latch onto any public discussion to promote the fight and commented, “delete this before jakes sees it bro” 

Fans of the sport are tired of seeing matches that prioritize entertainment and financial gain over the integrity of professional boxing which forced one user to comment, “Imagine thinking this is a professional boxing bout and then posting about it”. Throughout his career, Jake Paul has faced criticism for fighting older, retired athletes, however, one user reminded that he is not the only one to do so, “So it’s not just jake paul fighting old ppl”. The fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson as spectacle reminded some fans of the world’s biggest pro-wrestling organization WWE. The fight emphasized that the spectacle was so far removed from traditional boxing that it might as well be part of a scripted entertainment event. So, the fans now want to see Paul in such an event and commented, “I’ve seen enough give him Jake Paul in a Hell in a Cell match”.

These reactions highlight a growing divide between purists and the new wave of entertainment-driven boxing. While celebrity matchups have undeniably brought fresh attention to the sport, they’ve also alienated long-time fans who value competition over showmanship. What are your thoughts on such fights? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.