On November 15th, Jake Paul will be facing Mike Tyson in a boxing match like no other. The popular YouTuber has a 5-inch reach advantage and is 31 years younger. Mike Tyson was one of the best boxers of all time compiling a 50-6 record with 44 knockouts. Bleacher Report ranks Mike Tyson as the 46th best boxer of all time and it should be noted that they start his segment noting Tyson "was a force in the heavyweight division during the late 1980s and early 1990s". It is 2024 folks. Connor McGregor famously screamed at Floyd Mayweather that he was "forty years of age", and Tyson is a full 18 years past that.
Looking back on Tysons record, it's important to remember that he didn't go out on top of his game. Tyson's reign on the boxing world ended on November 9th, 1996 when he was TKO'd by Evander Holyfield. Yes, you read that right nearly 30 years ago. Tyson would follow up that fight with the infamous ear bite and go 5-4-2 before finally retiring in 2005 on a 2-fight losing streak. Tyson wasn't winning back in 2005, now we're asking if he will win nearly 2 decades later.
Paul will never reach the same level that Tyson reached. Period. Paul has made a career of pulling retired MMA fighters out of the cage and sending them to the shadow realm. However, Paul has admittedly stepped his game and competition up these past two years facing the likes of Tommy Fury, Nate Diaz, and Mike Perry. Tommy gave Paul his first loss and Nate gave Paul 10 hard fought rounds, showing Paul's toughness and resilience. The most impressive win in my opinion is his win over Mike Perry. I honestly didn't think Paul had much of a chance. Perry was an active and highly competitive bare-knuckle fighter that wouldn't have to knock off the rust to get in the ring with Paul. Perry had beat MVP just two years prior and MVP is currently making a run up the UFC ranks. This win displayed that Paul is a legit boxer and no longer an influencer playing pretend.
The odds makers have it right setting Paul as the favorite over Tyson. Money initially came POURING in on Tyson dropping him from a +210 underdog to a +170 underdog and he still currently holds 68% of the moneyline bets. The public is also very heavy on the under betting it at 59%. The bets to make are clear, they are Jake Paul ML and the Over 5.5. I'll make it easy for you to place those bets by hyperlinking the underlined picks to take you straight to the books. The Jake Paul by Dec at +280 is also very tantalizing. There is only one case for picking Tyson to win; and that is he is the more experienced boxer who has reached a higher peak in his career.
The case for Paul? Let's ask unbiased ChatGPT. Who would win in a boxing match between a 27-year-old active boxer and a 58-year-old world champion that retired nearly 20 years ago?
Physical Condition: A younger, active boxer would likely have better stamina, speed, and recovery capabilities. Age brings a natural decline in muscle mass, reaction time, and endurance, and it's difficult for a 58-year-old to keep up with the intense physical demands of a full boxing match.
Experience vs. Rust: While the retired world champion would bring years of experience, technique, and ring intelligence, they may also experience "ring rust." Nearly two decades away from active competition would affect reflexes and timing, which are critical in boxing.
Training and Adaptation: An active boxer is likely adapting to the latest training methods, fighting styles, and conditioning techniques. This could give them an edge over the retired champion, whose techniques and tactics might be outdated.
Weight and Power: If the two fighters are in the same weight class, the younger boxer might still have a slight edge in punching power and resilience. However, a retired champion with a strong defensive style and a good chin might withstand hits longer than expected.
That said, in a fight involving skill and strategy, experience still counts, and the retired champ might have tricks up their sleeve. But in a full match, especially over multiple rounds, the physical edge of the 27-year-old would likely win out.
The Pick: Jake Paul -210
Who do you think wins?
Jake Paul
Mike Tyson
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