Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson: A Battle for the Ages

Boxing fans, YouTube fans, and YouTube boxing fans will all unite this evening in one of the most hotly anticipated bouts of the year. Jake Paul vs. “Iron” Mike Tyson is a battle for the ages, uniting Generation X with Generation Z in hand-to-hand combat.

The fight will be free to all subscribers on Netflix, which has been kicking the tires on live sports as part of its streaming empire. Tonight, in the Dallas Cowboys’ Arlington Arena, millions worldwide will cheer on two icons of their respective generations, who will be streamed in HD. 

A Clash of Zeitgeist Titans

The contrasts in this fight are palpable: an aging heavyweight boxer who has rediscovered his inner beast vs. a fast-talking influencer-turned-boxer. What a fascinating match-up. 

As far as the zeitgeist goes, both characters made their mark on an era, albeit using different methods to show their talents. Paul is an online personality with a canny knack for marketing himself, a generational voice now worth a reported $80 million. Incidentally, he will bank a guaranteed $40 million compared to Tyson’s $20 million this evening.

Jake Paul’s Journey From Screen to Ring

Paul’s 11 fights — mostly against retired UFC (Ultimate Fighter Championship) fighters — have generated millions in pay-per-view profits. Some analysts even laud him as a savior for the sport. While Paul has won many boxing fans over, some grimace at the thought of him even sharing a ring with such boxing royalty.

His online clout and ability to talk up his chances have elevated him to a unique position. Like his brother Logan, Paul has risen from the rank of YouTube prankster to a near professional-level boxer (we say this with a mealy mouth). His journey from Vine to YouTube and Disney differs from his opponent’s trajectory — to say the least.

Straight Outta Brownsville

Tyson is the living embodiment of the previous era — a natural-born pugilist forged in the fires of Brownsville, New York. In the age before the Internet, Tyson made it to the top with his bare hands and killer instinct — which he did without viral videos, marketing campaigns, or email blasts. 

Reverential figure Cus D’Amato found this diamond in the rough and guided him, channeling the young fighter’s anger and turning him into a professional wrecking ball. There were only two other paths for this product of a broken upbringing: jail or a coffin. While fighting saved Tyson’s life, its rewards almost ended it. 

Iron Mike’s Steely Past

In Tyson’s autobiography, Undisputed Truth (2013), we see the extent of the boxer’s decline and his fall from the top, driven by substance abuse and reckless living. The man who destroyed 44 heavyweight boxers in a row before his past caught up with him is lucky to be alive.

If any example underscores Tyson’s contrast with his younger foe, it was the night he was crowned WBC Heavyweight Champion, at age 20. The same night he felled Trevor Burbick in 1986, Tyson reveals he and his friends celebrated with a spate of burglary.

For illustration, when Paul was 20 years old, he was appearing in the Disney Channel teen comedy Bizaardvark (2016). 

The Tale of the Tape

In terms of their fight records, Tyson obviously holds the upper hand. His record speaks for itself (54-6-0). Notably, Tyson hasn’t fought anyone of great repute since Evander Holyfield — we all know how that went. 

Since Tyson’s return from a period of bankruptcy and poor health, he had one exhibition bout with another American ring legend, Roy Jones Jr.

Paul’s 10-1 record is hard to ignore. However, his one loss came at the hands of the only actively professional boxer he faced: Britain’s Tommy Fury. 

Extended Training Camps

Tyson’s recent training videos look impressive — he clearly possesses the firepower to harm anybody up close, albeit in short bursts. Meanwhile, Paul’s have been a fitting blend of trolling and serious work — he even dropped several training clips donning a prosthetic beer belly. 

Ex-fighters, such as former Tyson opponent Frank Bruno MBE, and current pundits are conflicted over whether Iron Mike can stop this young upstart, 31 years his junior. Clearly, age is not on his side, though Tyson is unlikely to lie down for anyone. 

The bout was originally scheduled for May, so fans have had an extended fight build-up. The past year has been rife with online exchanges between the two, Paul playing his usual trash-talking instigator to Tyson’s quiet menace. 

Talking’s Over

Surprisingly, Tyson snapped yesterday at the official weigh-in, slapping Paul across the face as they faced off. When asked for an explanation, Tyson gave a frank two-word response: “Talking’s over.”

Younger boxing fans may be divided over who they support in this contest. If Gen X’s Mike Tyson knocks out Gen Z’s Jake Paul, the parents watching will regain a little of the joy Iron Mike gave them at the same age.