Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul: Fake or Real

by Kidman J. Williams

Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul is 11/15/2024 on Netflix. The 58-year-old Mike Tyson is stepping into the ring with the 27-year-old YouTube sensation Jake Paul. The weigh in saw Tyson slap the taste out of Paul’s mouth. Many people across every social media platform out there have been calling “fake.” Tyson just came out stating that he slapped him because Paul stepped on his foot, claiming that he has sensitive feet. Saying that he “has the worst feet in the world. If someone stepped on my feet I would totally tap out. I would just give up.”

When asked about the slap, Paul said,

“I didn’t even feel it. He’s angry. He is an angry little elf. Mike Tyson, I thought that was a cute slap buddy, but tomorrow you are getting knocked the fuck out.” Paul went on to say, “He hits like a bitch. It’s personal now! It’s personal now! He must die!!!”

The BIG Question: Fake or Not?

Is this bout a badly written remake of Guy Ritchie’s “Snatch?” Was Tyson paid $35 million to simply take a dive and walk out the side door to purchase himself an illegal tiger in the alley?

The setup was convenient at best. Two men who at one time were friends, Tyson even being on Logan Paul’s podcast. Tyson has went on record stating that “There’s no feelings attached.”

Paul is an aspiring boxer, a successful youtuber, an entrepreneur, and most of all, Paul is a master marketer. That means he understands how to manipulate situations and people to get a desired outcome. That being said, it wouldn’t be surprising to find out that the whole situation was influenced in Paul’s favor.

We also have to remember that Tyson is still Tyson. The man is an animal in the ring.

I will be honest, the shady dealings and obvious thrown fights have dimmed the lights of the boxing world over the years. I can tell you the last time I was truly excited about boxing. It was Lennox Lewis vs Evander Holyfield for the WBA, WBC, and IBF undisputed heavyweight championship in which Lewis clearly outboxed Holyfield. The tie went to the champion. The fact is that if Don King was involved in a fight, you had a 70/30 chance that the fight was going to have a desired outcome.

I do think this fight could be rigged in favor of the YouTube boy. What I and many people are hoping is that Tyson becomes Tyson and forgets that he has a script to follow.

Tyson is still an ill-tempered fighter. He always has been. Tyson bit Holyfield’s ear and spit it onto the canvas because he got tired of Holyfield’s dirty headbutts and low blow shots. That was during their now infamous bout. If Paul goes left when he should go right, and he gets on Tyson’s bad side, this could be over before you can get that first handful of popcorn in your mouth.

If Tyson does forget, even at 58, Tyson might really hurt Paul. What I would like to see is a focused, unwavering, and shrewd Tyson walk down to the ring with a necklace of ears hanging from his overdeveloped neck ready to destroy all enemies that dare to look into his eyes. I fear that we might get a predetermined WWE bout full of hype and words only to end in a disappointing no loss result.