Mike Tyson is considered one of the most legendary boxers in the history of professional boxing. He was almost infallible during his time as a boxer and it’s not hard to see why. While he was part of WWE programming during the late 90s, he became a major name there too.
The boxer is also a very imposing figure and not many people have the guts to actually make fun of him, especially knowing just how deadly Tyson can truly be.
The fearsome boxer is set to square off against Jake Paul this year in a boxing match and it appears Tyson’s bizarre request to fight a gorilla has now resurfaced ahead of the highly controversial match.
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson Is An Incredibly Polarizing Match
Recently, it was announced that boxing legend Mike Tyson will face off against YouTube personality Jake Paul. Paul, who currently holds a professional record of 9-1 after securing a first-round victory over Ryan Bourland in Puerto Rico on March 2nd, is gearing up for this highly anticipated match.
The much-anticipated event is set to be exclusively streamed on Netflix on Saturday, July 20, 2024, live from the iconic 80,000-seat AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. This renowned stadium is famously known as the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.
The match has sparked controversy primarily because Mike Tyson, aged 57, is perceived as not being a suitable opponent for Jake Paul, who is significantly younger at 27. Adding to the concerns is the fact that Tyson is not actively competing as a boxer, whereas Paul is currently active with no signs of ring rust. Additionally, many fighters state that Paul is overrated and lacks the credentials to face a boxing icon like Mike Tyson.
Fighter-turned-analyst Chael Sonnen recently drew parallels between former cruiserweight and heavyweight world champion boxer Evander Holyfield’s quick loss to boxing newcomer and UFC veteran Vitor Belfort in September 2021 and the upcoming match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson in a conversation on the PBD podcast.
“Vitor Belfort, who has never boxed, put him away so fast. So, this [Holyfield] is an Olympic gold medalist you’re watching. Vitor, who has never done it [boxing], put him away so fast that it ended Vitor’s [boxing] career. They would not book him again. They labeled him like an elderly abuser. ‘How dare you? How could you do this?’ Vitor never got another fight … He [Paul] will get teased for taking this [Tyson] fight.”
Sonnen emphasized the significant age difference between Holyfield and Belfort, suggesting that Belfort’s limited boxing opportunities following their match stemmed from concerns about elder abuse in their bout.
”I’m a hardcore boxing fan. He [Tyson] is one of my heroes. I find it very sad. But it’s a big event. I understand people are going to watch it. And it’s entertainment, I guess. But for someone that idolized the guy growing up, yeah, not the best day.”
Drawing a parallel, Sonnen speculated that Jake Paul might face similar criticism if he were to confront and defeat Mike Tyson.
Mike Tyson’s Old Request to Fight A Gorilla Resurfaces Ahead of Jake Paul Bout
Mike Tyson is hailed as The Baddest Man on The Planet and he did a lot of things to warrant such a moniker. As pointed out by a Twitter account on the social media platform, Mike Tyson once offered a zookeeper $10,000 to open a gate so he could enter a primate enclosure and confront a gorilla that was bullying other primates. However, the zookeeper declined his offer.
Fans took to Twitter and commented on the aforementioned tweet, as many fans felt they would rather see a match between Mike Tyson and a gorilla instead of Tyson squaring off against The Problem Child.
I’d rather see this match, then the one vs Jake Paul!
— Batnarc (@batnarc573511) March 17, 2024
Poor zookeepers were just trying to keep that little gorilla safe.
— x (@nyon1599) March 17, 2024
Being a prominent boxer in the 90s was wild! 😂😂😂 What do you mean, fight a gorilla? You think that's Hector Mercedes? 😂
— 雰囲気とインシャラー (@6godMikhey) March 17, 2024
When you're Jake Paul and you realize this is the person you wanna get in the ring with. pic.twitter.com/OCu8XGJZ22
— x (@nyon1599) March 17, 2024
Mike Tyson once offered a zookeeper $10,000 to open the gate so he could go in the pen and fight the gorilla who was bullying the other primates. Tyson's offer was turned down. pic.twitter.com/apaDoWjad7
— Creepy.org (@creepydotorg) March 17, 2024
It remains to be seen who will come out on top in the highly controversial match this year.
