Opposition to Mike Tyson ever boxing again is gaining momentum with the addition of two of the sport’s top promoters.
Oscar De La Hoya and Eddie Hearn joined the pushback to Tyson’s November 15 fight with Jake Paul, which is scheduled for Netflix transmission. The Golden Boy and Matchroom heads join several other high-profile names to dismiss the notion of Tyson fighting again out of hand.
Michael Bisping, Carl Froch, and Stephen A. Smith are some other well-known names who have voiced their concerns.
Speaking to Shannon Sharpe, De La Hoya verbally bashed the fight. He said, “Come on? I love Tyson; he has a puncher’s chance in the first three rounds.
“I am a little scared of Tyson getting hurt after the third round. Jake Paul is a big boy, and he is 26 [27] years old. Tyson is 61 [he’s 58]. I am happy that Tyson is making money and still loves it; he is getting there and is in shape, but just be careful.”
On Paul being taken seriously, De La Hoya added, “I am actually commending him for getting in the ring and for taking it seriously and for promoting and helping out Serrano. He is doing great things for fighters and for the sport. But if he is going to be taken seriously the way he says he is, then take that route the way the greats took it, the way that fighters have to work their way up from the start.
“Go fight guys who are going to test you, not guys who don’t have experience or are MMA fighters. I strongly feel that Jake Paul has the ability and the work ethic, but every fight that he chooses is not balanced.
“Take the professional route. It will test your ability to become a world champion.”
Hearn waded in by labeling the contest ‘a freak show’ and stating it was ‘sad’ that Tyson was planning to fight when almost sixty.
World Boxing News recently broke a world-exclusive story about Tyson’s license, adding further to the dissolution. WBN revealed that the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation sanctioned Mike Tyson to box professionally in May 2024. Later that same month, Tyson suffered a stomach ulcer flare-up and was forced to delay the fight four months for health reasons.
WBN then asked the TDLR what precautions they were taking regarding Tyson’s health, only to be told the license still stands without any further checks planned until November 14, the day before the fight.
Hopefully, Tyson will schedule a complete check-up before that date, giving the event organizers time to accommodate any potential withdrawal.
Read all articles and exclusive interviews by Phil Jay. Learn more about the author, experienced boxing writer, and World Boxing News Editor since 2010. Follow on Twitter @PhilJWBN.
