Mike Tyson Talks Jake Paul’s Fight, His Health and Never Finding ‘Peace’

On By Littum

Mike tyson is not a nice guy and he is not at peace. That’s his word. The words of a former world heavyweight champion. The words of a brutal fighter once touted (fairly) as the “baddest man on the planet”. The words of a fighter who chewed a chunk out of an opponent’s ear. The words of a father, husband, podcaster and convicted felon.

There was a time when Mike Tyson was a simple creature – maybe 40 years ago. So purely violent and destructive was the boxer that he was arguably as one-dimensional as he was single-minded. Today, things are more complicated. For a long time he has been a real enigma.

The American, who still holds the record for being boxing’s youngest ever world heavyweight champion, is older now. The 58-year-old spent time in prison – from 1992 to 1995 after being convicted of rape, plus nine months in 1999 for assaulting two motorists – serving his ban for biting Evander Holyfield’s ear. Despite his troubling and troubled past, Tyson is loved by many boxing fans for the memories he gave them in his prime; he is treasured for the sense of wonder he drilled through their television screens and into their living rooms with vicious, merciless strikes in the eighties and nineties. Punches that changed the lives of Tyson’s opponents and audiences in different ways.

Watching Tyson at that point could have been akin to staring at fire up close and finding yourself engulfed in flames. You don’t want to touch them, of course, but their power speaks to something primary. Mike Tyson spoke to something primal in other people. So it feels like there was always an urge to forgive him for his faults: the immoral and criminal. In many ways he is a changed man. In others, maybe not. There has been a desire for this for a long time see him as changed, at least.

And yet. “There’s nothing nice about me,” he says, speaking to The independent and other publications over Zoom, two weeks before his fight with YouTuber Jake Paul – one of the most controversial boxing fights in years. “I’m not a nice person. I am one decent person, I try to do the right thing. But I’m not a nice person. Anyone with (the idea) that I’m a nice person will be disappointed. I’m just not that. I don’t make people happy for no reason, I’m just who I am. I’m not trying to make friends, that’s basically what I’m saying. I don’t want to be friends with you, I don’t care if you put me on your yacht, I don’t give ***. I will never be nice to anyone; I will be kind, but never nice.”

Mike Tyson was disqualified for biting Evander Holyfield's ear in 1997

Mike Tyson was disqualified for biting Evander Holyfield’s ear in 1997 (Sky Sports/PA handout)

I am asking about the difference between being “nice” and “kind”. He replies with the familiar lisp. “I think being a nice guy is looking out for friends, going out of your way to make someone happy. I’m not going to go out of my way to kiss someone’s ass so they can have a good day. I’m just not that guy. To basically neglect yourself for someone else’s happiness, I won’t do that.”

In his mind, then, Tyson is kind but not nice. Regardless, he is polite. He routinely checks to see if you have understood him. “Does that even make sense?” he will ask. “You get it now, don’t you?”

But if Tyson isn’t neglecting himself, why isn’t he still at peace?

Again, he wants to make sure you’re on the same page as him. “Tell me what is peace? What is the definition of peace? So I can really answer the question properly.”

“Satisfaction,” replies the journalist in question.

“I’m never satisfied, so I guess I don’t have peace. No, no…”

“But is it better than it was?”

“Absolutely. I have more responsibilities, my life is more… I don’t know… more practical than it was before. Having kids, having a wife, having chores, having things to do!” Tyson laughs. “When I was a master, I had nothing important to do. Party, drink, women, talk shit. There was no substance back then.”

Tyson has won 50 of his professional fights, 44 of which ended in knockouts

Tyson has won 50 of his professional fights, 44 of which ended in knockouts (Getty)

No drug, only drugs. And to a 20-year-old Tyson, that might not have seemed like a bad thing. But for the older Tyson, the singular is more important than the plural.

That seems to be the reason why he is boxing again, 19 years after his last professional fight, and four years after his exhibition with Roy Jones Jr. That appears to be why he faces a 27-year-old opponent, five months after suffering a mid-flight health scare that delayed the fight. And yes, Tyson’s fight with Paul is an officially sanctioned, professional bout set for eight two-minute rounds at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on November 15. The fight will be broadcast live on Netflix in an unprecedented move and knockouts will be allowed.

Fans are divided. Those of a certain generation who fondly remember Tyson in his prime are convinced he will brutalize a Disney Channel actor turned YouTube boxer. Those of a younger generation who note Paul’s lesser skill but have seen him KO former UFC fighters more youthful than Tyson are playing devil’s advocate. Then there are those who acknowledge the pair’s friendship and suspect the match will be an exhibition in all but name.

“I’ve been through some spiritual experiences and things changed for the better in my life, so I’m willing to expect to be involved in combat again,” Tyson says. “Maybe it… maybe it touches my childhood. Maybe it has something to do with my childhood. This money from this fight will not change my lifestyle or life a percentage, I will always be able to live this way; I could use a buck just like everyone else, but it’s not for financial reasons. I just do it because I want to test myself.

Tyson and Jake Paul face each other ahead of their upcoming boxing match

Tyson and Jake Paul face each other ahead of their upcoming boxing match (AP)

“No matter how old I am, this guy only has 11 fights. If I can just wrestle a little bit, with my experience… if I can just wrestle 10 percent of what I was, he can’t match that. It’s to be honest. I’ll beat him. I know what I can do, I’ve seen what he’s capable of, and I’m not scared of him.”

Paul is 10-1 (7 KOs) with his only loss coming on points against Tommy Fury in early 2023. That night in Saudi Arabia, Tyson Fury’s half-brother won in one of the biggest fights crossover boxing has seen. Paul vs Tyson will top it, for better or for worse.

“Boxing has changed tremendously and I’m changing it more by doing this fight,” says Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs, in case you were wondering). “I am also part of boxing’s change. When you think about it, not being selfish: who else can do this? Just think about it, move on. I’m not trying to push myself, but who else could do this? No one, huh?”

In fact, no matter how you look at it, there is no one like Mike Tyson.

Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson will stream exclusively live on Netflix on Friday, November 15.