His story, as a simple kid from rough-and-tumble Brooklyn, inspired countless boys to trade the streets for the boxing gym.
The fight between Tyson and YouTuber Jake Paul felt more like a show. The numbers alone tell the story—58 years old versus 27. Over the past 24 years since Tyson retired, he has only stepped into the ring once.
But what a spectacle it turned out to be. We once again witnessed a living legend in action; we saw Tyson in the ring. He went the distance, enduring all 8 rounds, albeit at 2 minutes each. It was tough, but he held on, never gave up, showed his character, and gave his all.
Credit must also go to Jake Paul, who refrained from knocking out the legend, even though he had the chance. For this, Paul deserves the utmost respect as someone who understands the moment and recognizes the icon he faced—someone who defined decades of the sport.
The result was an excellent media product. Tyson earned $20 million, while his opponent took home $40 million. The broadcast drew an unimaginable audience. Seventy thousand spectators filled the venue, with the most expensive ticket priced at $2 million. The Netflix stream was watched by 60 million viewers, with millions more tuning in via illegal streams online.
The massive interest in Tyson proves once again that he is one of a kind and likely irreplaceable.
