Mike Tyson opens up about returning to the ring after humbling defeat to Jake Paul | Boxing

After Mike Tyson’s first professional boxing match in nearly 20 years proved to be little more than a high-profile mismatch on Friday night, the former undisputed heavyweight champion expressed satisfaction with his performance and hinted that he may remain unretired.

Tyson dropped an eight-round unanimous decision at AT&T Stadium to YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a bout that was streamed globally to Netflix’s 280 million subscribers at no additional cost. The 58-year-old only managed to win two rounds on all three judges’ scorecards, losing 80-72 and 79-73 (twice), but finished proceedings on the feet and remained unbowed.

“I didn’t prove anything to anybody, only to myself,” said Tyson, who was coming off a 7,097-day layoff. “I’m not one of those guys who seems to please the world. I’m just happy with what I can do.”

A silhouette of the destructive force that cut a swath through the heavyweight division in the late 1980s, Tyson was unable to maintain his aggressive swarming approach from the opening round as a black brace on his right knee appeared to hamper his movement from the second frame onwards. .

Tyson grudgingly admitted he was dealing with an injury coming into the fight, but refused to blame it for the outcome.

“I can’t use it as excuses,” said Tyson, who landed just 18 of 97 punches (18.6%) in the contest, compared to 78 of 278 (28.1%) by Paul. “If I did, I wouldn’t be in there.”

The former champion went on to praise Paul, the social media star, who has managed to develop into a competent boxer since taking up the sport and turning professional in 2020, before saying he would consider fighting again.

“It depends on the situation,” Tyson said. Pressed on whether he thought Friday night would be his last appearance in a boxing ring, the Brooklyn native added, “I don’t think so.”

Paul appeared to go easy on Tyson in the final rounds of what was a sorry display at times. The YouTube star bowed to Tyson respectfully in the seconds before the final bell, before offering him praise immediately afterwards.

“First of all, Mike Tyson, it’s such an honor. Let’s give it up for Mike,” Paul said after the two embraced in the center of the ring.

“He’s the best to ever do it. He’s the goat, he’s a legend. I look up to him, I’m inspired by him and we wouldn’t be here today without him. This man is an icon, and it’s just an honor to be able to fight him. And he’s obviously the toughest, baddest man on the planet.”