Why Mike Tyson came out of retirement to fight Jake Paul

The second episode of Netflix Countdown: Paul vs. Tysonwhich sets up the pair's highly anticipated boxing match on November 15th, takes a look inside both boxers' camps as they prepare for the fight. The contest captured the public's imagination and pitted Tyson against Paul, a 58-year-old legend of the sport, and a 27-year-old YouTuber who moved into the boxing arena after conquering social media. Boxing Hall of Famer-turned-actor Tyson is a former world heavyweight champion and has a legitimate claim to being the sport's most visible and controversial figure in the last 30 years.

Many boxing experts also consider him to be one of the best in the sport. Tyson had a 20-year professional career between 1985 and 2005, scoring 19 knockout victories in his first 19 professional fightsbefore becoming the youngest world heavyweight champion ever at age 21 when he defeated Trevor Berbick in Las Vegas in 1986. Tyson defended the title nine times and appeared unbeatable before losing to James.Busters“Douglas in Tokyo in February 1990, in what many consider to be the biggest surprise of all time in boxing. But 34 years later, the fight between Tyson and Paul promises a new and surprising chapter in his career.

Why Mike Tyson retired from boxing in 2005

Tyson's career failed after the Douglas loss

Tyson's loss to Douglas marked a spectacular fall from grace, both inside and outside the ring. Before the Douglas fight, the multimillionaire's personal life was spiraling out of control; His stormy marriage to actress Robin Givens rarely made the headlines and he had split from his long-time trainer and confidante Kevin Rooneyhis only connection to the man who had adopted him as a teenager and guided his professional career, Cus D'Amato. D'Amato's death in 1985 hit Tyson hard, leaving him ill-equipped for the fame, fortune and publicity that inevitably comes with being a world heavyweight champion.

A high-profile rape conviction followed in 1992, in which Tyson was sentenced to six years in prison and was paroled after three years in the Indiana Youth Center. Despite regaining his world title in 1997 a The severely weakened Tyson gave up his legacy and reputation to Evander Holyfield in two defeatsthe second by disqualification for biting his opponent's ear in 1997. Tyson continued to fight for money, his appeal intact, but in 2005, after an embarrassing loss to journeyman Kevin McBride, he quit the sport.

Mike Tyson's decision to come out of retirement to fight Jake Paul is explained

Tyson's post-boxing activities were varied

The McBride fight seemed to have dashed Mike Tyson's fighting ambitions: “I felt like I was 120 years old. I don't think I have it anymore” he said The New York Times after the fight. He retreated to an upscale enclave, Paradise Valley, near Phoenix, Arizona, to spend time with his 350 prize pigeons, a lifelong obsession. Several run-ins with the law remained, including a high-profile bankruptcy declaration in 2003 with debts of more than $20 millionand many visits to rehabilitation centers to overcome problems with depression, drug and alcohol addiction.

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In 2013 he published his autobiography, Undisputed truthin which he gave an honest and unexplained account of his life and his problems. The book initiated a new relationship between Tyson and his audience and became an international one Undisputed Truth Tour, in which a visibly overweight Tyson surprised and shined on stage as he recounted his life experiences and missteps. Nearing 50, out of shape and with some stability in his personal life, a return to the ring seemed highly unlikely.

While Tyson's decision to fight Paul was undoubtedly due to many factors, the former champion has been pretty open when it comes to his motivation. He rejected claims that this was a purely financial move. While commentating on a Cage Wars MMA event (via The Daily Mirror), Tyson described such allegations as “Bull****,” and added:

“I'm a man; I want to go out and put myself at risk. Sometimes I want to see who I really am. I want to see what I'm really made of. I want to perform.” For me, that’s all I’ve been able to do since I was 14. This fight will not change my life financially enough.

This suggests there is more to Tyson's decision than just the financial implications.

Mike Tyson also had a friendly against Roy Jones Jr in 2020

Tyson and Jones boxed for eight rounds

In 2020, a newly minted Tyson, slimmed down and seemingly having his demons under control, announced an exhibition fight with fellow boxing legend Roy Jones Jr., then 51, himself a former multiweight world champion. Tyson's share of the purse was rumored to exceed $10 million and while some experts had suspected that the two ancient pugilists might not be able to control their natural instincts, they actually went through eight somewhat boring rounds of combat, after which three judges awarded a draw. Tyson then announced that he would like to fight more exhibition fights.

In Countdown: Paul vs. Tyson, The old champion is training hard and seems to have recovered somewhat from his typical menace. He is shown smashing his padded trainers and heavy bags while looking fit and great against a static opponent that doesn't strike back. The documentaries, of course, trivialize the recurring sciatica problems that have confined him to a wheelchair, leading to a postponement of the fight last June, or the ulcers he suffers from, or the general physical dissipation that comes with middle/old age . This Paul Tyson fight is not an exhibition and there will be real punches thrown.

SOURCE: The New York Times, The Daily Mirror