Mike Tyson and Jake Paul shared the same card in late 2020.
It has been five years to the day since ‘Iron Mike’ entered the boxing ring for the first time in well over a decade.
Tyson made his comeback in an exhibition match against fellow legend Roy Jones Jr., which headlined a Triller event at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The ex-undisputed heavyweight king and the former four-division world champion were not the only big names on the lineup.
Before their eight-round contest, the polarizing Jake Paul had his second fight as a professional against ex-NBA star Nate Robinson.
- LATEST NEWS: Amanda Nunes ignored advice UFC legend said she must follow to stand a chance against Kayla Harrison
Which fights and knockouts would you rank in Jake Paul’s top 5 boxing moments? 🥊
Mike Tyson insisted boxing needed Jake Paul after he KO’d Nate Robinson
Paul is widely regarded as the leading name in the ongoing crossover boxing craze, having transitioned to the ring and headlined a number of highly watched events.
For Tyson’s comeback, Paul unsurprisingly had to settle for the co-main event spot, but he still made the most of the eyeballs that were on the undercard.
Paul brutally knocked out Robinson in round two, giving combat sports fans a first real glimpse at his power and potential in the ring.
The result did little to convince boxing traditionalists that YouTube or celebrity boxing was anything but a farce. Tyson, however, believed the sport actually needed fighters like Paul to combat the UFC’s rise.
“My ego says so many things but my reality is, they help boxing so much,” Tyson said at the post-event press conference.
“Boxing owes these guys — YouTube boxers — some respect.
“Give them some belts because these guys make boxing alive. Boxing was pretty much a dying sport. The UFC was kicking our butt,” he added.
“Now we got these YouTubers, 20 million subscribers? Boxing is coming back thanks to these YouTube boxers.”
Tyson would go on to fight Paul himself four years on, with the pair achieving historical viewing figures in a controversial fight that served as Netflix’s entry into boxing in 2024.
- LATEST NEWS: UFC accused of ‘turning into WWE’ as fans threaten boycott after Dana White’s fight announcements
Jake Paul will throw down with Anthony Joshua over five years later
It has been quite the ride for Paul since he slept Robinson in devastating fashion.
After defeating the ex-NBA star, the YouTuber-turned-pugilist turned his attention to fighting past-their-prime mixed martial arts veterans, building up his record with wins over the likes of Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley, and Nate Diaz.
Paul’s detractors have long called for him to face a legitimate boxing threat, and that will certainly be the case in Miami on December 19.
After the cancellation of his fight against Gervonta Davis due to fresh allegations of domestic abuse against the WBA lightweight champion, Paul will fight Anthony Joshua in a professional heavyweight match.
What chance do you give Jake Paul of beating Anthony Joshua?
Given that Joshua is a former two-time unified world champion and is not too far removed from his prime years, the likes of UFC CEO Dana White are predicting Paul’s haters to finally get what they have been waiting for: a knockout loss.