Some of Gen-Z’s best childhood memories took place while watching the TV show “Bizaardvark” and laughing at the character whose main purpose was to be a joke. Now we get to relive those memories on July 20, when Jake Paul faces one of the best boxers to ever step into the ring: Mike Tyson. The world heavyweight champion from 1987-90, Tyson retired in 2005 with 50 fights under his belt, 44 of which were by knockout. “Iron Mike” was doing unheard-of things in the boxing world at just 20 years old, while Jake Paul on the other hand was filming vlogs for nine-year-olds.
Paul’s boxing career officially began in August of 2018, when he won against Deji Olatunji. However, he did not return to the ring until 2020, against AnEsonGib. Since then, Paul has amassed 10 fights, with nine wins and one loss. Seven of those fights have been with men 8-11 years older than him, so it’s not the first time the “Problem Child” has challenged older athletes. As for his single loss, Paul fought Tommy Fury: the youngest man he’s ever faced. Interesting.
The fact that this fight is taking place in the first place is astonishing. This just goes to show that the boxing world’s reputation is on a downtrend and will continue to be as long as these influencers put the word “professional” in front of their title.
As mentioned in the Lanthorn, “Influencer boxing includes large payouts for the athletes, just for showing up. Even if they lose the fight in the first round, they are still walking away with millions. Seeing influencers with minimal training get paid much more than what a pro boxer gets paid is infuriating to many in the sport and fans alike.”
In 2022, Paul was ranked No. 46 on Forbes’ Highest Paid Athletes list, with a payout estimated at around $38 million. Influencer fights pulled in more views than any other regular professional fight and broke advertising records, so in many cases, some could argue influencers are bringing the thrill of boxing to a larger audience. This audience is teenagers who let Paul believe he can become a professional boxer due to his comedic style.
As videos released show Tyson’s intense training on his first few days back in the gym, the public began to speculate on the winner. Their main concern is the 30 year age difference between the fighters. Regardless, fans feel there really is no way for Paul to truly win. Wow Jake, you beat up a 58 y/o man or you got beat by a 58 y/o man. As celebrity opinions flood the internet, there is only more tension arising at the fact Paul has challenged yet another man older than him.
When asked if he was interested in the fight, super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez responded with “Not at all” and described it as “more a show than a fight.” Alvarez has been called out by Jake Paul in the past but makes it known he is not interested in fighting the Youtuber.
This year Jake Paul made a questionable comment after winning a fight, saying: “I’m repping Puerto Rico, you’re repping Mexico, so it’s Mexico vs Puerto Rico. I want Canelo. I’m the face of this sport. Who’s doing more for boxing than me?”
Instead of seeing a chance to quickly gain some fans or riding off the influencer’s name, Alvarez sticks to his words and intends to keep boxing where it belongs, with the men who’ve spent their whole lives honing their craft.
Just like these influencers, streaming services are also harming the sport’s reputation. Netflix announced they would be hosting the fight on July 20 live for no extra cost. As random as that sounds, there may be benefits from the fight being broadcast. Not only will the 80,000 people sitting in the AT&T Stadium watch the fight but so will Netflix’s 260 million subscribers. As the streaming platform continues to experiment with broadcasting notable sporting events, it is evident that this fight will be the most memorable event of them all.
The upcoming fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson is not just about boxing. It shows how sports and pure entertainment are blending together, which serves to lower the name boxing has made for itself. Their match is more of a publicity stunt rather than a normal boxing competition. It represents a bigger trend where making money and being a “celebrity” is more important than the true spirit of sports. Because Netflix is broadcasting the fight to many viewers, the Paul vs Tyson match becomes a cultural event that will leave people speechless no matter the outcome.
