“You Didn’t Sugarcoat Life”: Mike Tyson and Shannon Briggs’ Stint Makes Inspired Fans Nostalgic

Shouts pierced through the ears. It looked like mayhem. After all, two bare-chested grown men were about to pummel each other. What happened next? After a few fake moves, they came close and then clung to each other. It was all hugging and laughter thereupon. It’s not some piece from a short story. It happened when Brooklyn went against Brooklyn. Mike Tyson shared a short clip. It featured him just joking around with former world champion and fellow Brooklynite Shannon Briggs. The two, it seems, were amidst a crowd in their old neighborhood, Brownsville.

Tagging Briggs, Tyson wrote, “Brownsville’s finest always ready for a brawl. Love this guy, @TheCannonBriggs.” With their torsos exposed, the two former champions appear to have had a wonderful time in front of a cheering crowd. After hugging Tyson, ‘The Cannon’ could be heard shouting loudly, “Let’s go champ, let’s go champ.“

Incidentally, last month’s announcement that Mike Tyson would enter the ring again took the boxing world by storm. The former heavyweight champion will meet YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Arlington, Texas, at the AT&T Stadium for what is supposedly an exhibition fight.

https://twitter.com/MikeTyson/status/1781497798711738662

The last time Tyson entered the ring was three years ago, when he and Roy Jones Jr. clashed for an eight-round exhibition bout. Incidentally, a few months before that match, through an Instagram post, Shannon Briggs shared that he and Mike Tyson were going to slug it out in the ring. It’s a different matter that the fight never materialized.

‘The Cannon’ reportedly has a boxing match with former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson.

Mike Tyson: An Inspiration Across Ages

It was apparent that almost all those who commented were in awe and in love with the two legends getting together at a familiar place. Many took up the Jake Paul fight and implored Tyson to charge ahead.

This user checked whether anyone would cheer for Jake Paul anymore. How is it possible for anyone not to admire and love Mike Tyson?

Then this follower reminisced about how his childhood resembled the one the former heavyweight champion went through. However, that’s where the similarities end. Unlike Tyson, it took some time for the follower to pick up fighting. Mike Tyson deserves all the credit for his ability to smile and laugh, despite all that he went through early in his life.

Urging Tyson to hammer Jake Paul, this user shared that the former heavyweight champion inspires them since he said and did things without keeping anything under wraps.

Then the next one went down memory lane. They recalled how, in the 80s, whenever a Tyson fight came up, the entire neighborhood used to fire up with excitement. Even though ‘Iron’ Mike is 57, the user urged him to get back in the old champion mode.

According to this follower, the glorious days of boxing will return once Mike Tyson outboxes Jake Paul in the ring.

Next year, it will be two decades since Mike Tyson retired from professional boxing. But there’s no abatement as far as the fandom goes. The youngest heavyweight champion in history continues to motivate millions to keep on fighting, even if the whole world goes against you.

Last year, Mike Tyson dazzled the world in his new avatar as a trainer. Under his tutelage, Francis Ngannou shocked everyone with a stellar performance against a reigning world heavyweight champion. The new year has brought the old warrior in Tyson back. It may not be hot off the press portrayal to most of the old-timers. But to those not familiar with the Mike Tyson of bygone days, July 20 presents a chance to witness the enigma who dazzled the ring in the 1980s and 90s.

Do you think Jake Paul stands a chance against ‘Iron’ Mike? Please share your views with us in the comments below.