A boxing legend rose from the ashes after a two-decade retirement break. This information was enough to tickle fans across sports to hold their breath for a spectacular phenomenon. Yet what they actually got dampened expectations severely. Mike Tyson, a 50-time winner and the 1986 youngest World Boxing Council champion, could not deliver much. Yet one NASCAR insider opined that was hardly the point of the recent fight that we all saw.

Mike Tyson, a 58-year-old riddled with illness, went up against famous YouTuber Jake Paul, a 27-year-old boxer. But do not let the obvious age gap occupy your mind when their fight’s viewership stats are staggering. 65 Million people tuned in to stream the fight, while gate receipts alone totaled $18 million as 72,300 people attended the event. That is where a NASCAR veteran threw the spotlight.

A dazzling show with Mike Tyson in the middle

“Comfortably the worst boxing match I have ever watched,” a fan told The Athletic via email. The last time Mike Tyson fought was in a 2020 exhibition match against former four-division world champ Roy Jones Jr. This time, his reputation as a former undisputed champion sank to a middling low. The eight-round fight, streamed live on Netflix, was scored 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73 in favor of Paul. Many fans claimed that the Katie Taylor-Amanda Sarrano fight in the Super Lightweight category had far more substance. Yet the number disparity was clear – while the women’s fight garnered 50 million tune-ins, Tyson’s appearance scored 65 Million.

So Kenny Wallace, former NASCAR Xfinity Series veteran, said it was all showbiz. In a recent YouTube episode, he lauded Paul for figuring out this money-making project. “Jake Paul is brilliant… made $40 Million and Mike Tyson made $20 Million. In some things, when life changes, people just get good at it. Jake Paul figured out YouTube before anybody did, making millions and millions of dollars… I bet he’s constantly thinking of what type of show to make. This guy figured out how to get Netflix to pay him $40 Million. And what’s more crazy about it? Everybody bit for it.”

Wallace also pointed out the logical hole that fans missed – in pairing two men inside the boxing arena with a 31-year gap between them. On top of that, Mike Tyson said he “almost died in June,” due to an ulcer flare-up. He also had eight blood transfusions and “lost half my blood and 25lbs in hospital.” Sp Wallace pointed out the obvious. “Mike Tyson just about met death… he said my kids watched me fight. He went toe-to-toe for 8 rounds and made $20 Million bucks… That wasn’t a fight. That was entertainment. It is funny how people will bite for things… Mike Tyson went to Dallas. I mean, they filled the place up, it was theatrical… People nowadays like shows, and that was a show. You got a 58-year-old man and a 25-year-old man – that’s not real, come on… They don’t do that in real boxing, everybody.”

After the massive PR success, more people want to challenge Jake Paul. That includes a NASCAR driver as well!

A Jake Paul-NASCAR crossover?

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Well, Kenny Wallace already displayed this by talking about Mike Tyson’s fight. But an actual meeting between a boxer and a racer? As jaw-dropping as that sounds, it is already a possibility. The Tyson-Paul fight turned into an internet sensation, with both fighters fetching millions. Now rumors are afloat about who Jake Paul, with a pro boxing record of 11 wins (7 KOs) against one defeat, will face next. Paul challenged UFC champion Conor McGregor on X: “I know you told my team you would fight me at 170 pounds. That’s never happening. But let’s run it in MMA. No weight class. Just like how it used to be done. But you won’t.”

While McGregor is yet to respond, his namesake in NASCAR did. Conor Daly is a versatile racer having run across IndyCar, F1, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Now he did not hesitate to try out a whole new sport if it pays his bills. He jokingly replied to Paul on X: “Will it pay enough to fund my IndyCar season, Jake?” He asked. “Because, if so…” According to a Racer report, operation costs for an IndyCar season are typically between the $6 million and $8 million bracket. Paul’s fight firm, Most Valuable Promotions, has reportedly paid this price to not just its headline fighters but co-main boxers, too. And Jake Paul’s earnings from this fight provided ample evidence of how rewarding it could be.

So can we expect a NASCAR driver in the arena with Jake Paul soon? Who knows, maybe? For now, Wallace’s rants about Mike Tyson’s fight are all we will get.