Mike Tyson’s return to the ring has sparked all kinds of comments. Many are concerned that his return to boxing at age 58 might pose a danger to his health. Others, like boxer-turned-promoter Dmitry Salita, believe the opposite, that he will give the fight to his young opponent, Jake Paul.
The 30-year difference between the opponents may be the largest in boxing history. Despite this, the Texas Athletic Commission decided to sanction the match as a professional fight, which added a new level of interest to the bout.
The change means that the result will count towards the official mark of both contenders. In Tyson’s case, he will arrive at AT&T Stadium with 50 wins, six losses, and two draws. Paul, for his part, will enter this fight with a record of nine wins and one loss.
Although they will not wear the protective equipment required for an exhibition, the fight will be eight rounds of two minutes each, with 14-ounce gloves, as opposed to the 8 to 10-ounce gloves used in a professional fight. Despite everything, the controversy surrounding Tyson’s age continues.
Salita’s opinion
Salita, born in Ukraine and naturalized American, had an outstanding boxing career, which left him with a record of 35-2-1, 18 knockouts. Upon his retirement in 2011, he became a promoter and founded Salita Promotions. In his client portfolio, he has fighters such as Claressa Shields, Christina Hammer, Jarrell Miller, and Otto Wallin.
Regarding the fight between Tyson and Paul, Salita considered that Iron Mike has a good chance, not only of holding his ground against the influencer-turned-boxer but of coming out with a victory.
“Hopefully [Mike Tyson is] healthy. I think that if he tries – power is the last thing to go, man,” Salita recalled in an appearance on The MMA Hour podcast. He explained that history is also in the former champion’s favor, saying, “I think that if he lands one good one on Jake Paul, based on his fight with Roy Jones Jr., he’s good.”
It should be remembered that Tyson and Jones Jr. met in an exhibition fight in 2020. Although the bout officially ended as a draw, analysts considered Tyson would have won on points.
The risks for Tyson
Multiple voices have been raised with concern about the consequences this fight could have for Tyson’s health. Last week, Nathan Howarth, Development and Operations Director at the Concussion Legacy Foundation UK warned of the long-term brain damage he could suffer.
Art Kramer, professor of psychology and founding director of the Center for Cognitive and Brain Health at Northeastern University, also warned that the way age interacts with head trauma worsens as we get older.
Tyson’s problems are not limited to possible brain damage. In the past, the former boxer also revealed that he suffers from sciatica and that he once suffered a severe back injury.
With the fight two months away, opinions and predictions are multiplying. The risks for both contenders are clear, but the only way to know what will happen is to wait for the final bell.
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