‘I have a biting fixation’: Mike Tyson leaves everyone in splits after Jake Paul showdown | Boxing news

Mike Tyson lands an overhand on Jake Paul during their heavyweight boxing match. (PTI photo)

Mike Tyson’s long-awaited return to the boxing ring ended in a one-sided defeat at the hands of YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul on Friday night in Arlington, Texas. The 58-year-old Tyson, who had not fought professionally for 19 years, fought throughout the eight-round fight, landing just 18 of his 97 punches. Paul dominated the fight and won by unanimous decision with scores of 80-72, 79-73 and 79-73 from all three judges.
Despite the lopsided nature of the defeat, Tyson remained upbeat about his performance. “I came to fight,” Tyson said after the fight. “I didn’t prove anything to anyone, only to myself… I’m just happy with what I can do.”

However, it was Tyson’s light-hearted response to a question about his behavior during the fight that stole the limelight.

When asked about his actions in the ring, specifically why he appeared to be chewing on his gloves, Tyson replied with a laugh, “I happened to bite my gloves.” He added, “I have a biting fixation,” drawing laughter from the ringside crowd.

This remark, a humorous reference to his infamous past, immediately brought to mind Tyson’s infamous 1997 rematch against Evander Holyfield, in which Tyson bit off part of Holyfield’s ear during their fight, resulting in his disqualification. The incident remains one of the most controversial moments in boxing history, and Tyson’s latest “biting fixation” comment served as a tongue-in-cheek reminder of the troubled chapter of his career.

Tyson’s return to the ring had been highly anticipated, but he fought Paul, who landed 78 of his 278 punches. Despite his performance, Tyson praised Paul’s boxing skills, saying, “He’s a very good fighter”, and refused to rule out a future return to the ring. “I don’t know. It depends on the situation,” Tyson said when asked about fighting again. “I don’t think so,” he added when pressed further.
Tyson’s return to boxing was highly hyped and he reportedly earned $20 million for the fight. The bout marked his first official fight since 2005, when he was defeated by Kevin McBride.