British sports promoter Eddie Hearn expressed his dismay at the news of heavyweight legend Mike Tyson stepping back into the ring to face off against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. The 57-year-old Tyson will be taking on the 30-year-old Paul at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on July 20, marking his return to boxing after retiring in 2005.
Hearn, who is currently in Jeddah for Anthony Joshua’s upcoming fight with Francis Ngannou, shared his thoughts on the matchup in an interview with iFL TV. He admitted that while the fight between Tyson and Paul is undeniably a big event that will draw a lot of attention, he personally finds it incredibly sad to see a boxing legend like Tyson return to the ring at his age.
“I guess if you criticise it you’re a hater, aren’t you? So I’m probably not the best person to ask because I love the sport of boxing,” Hearn said. “But it is a big event on a new platform, big stadium, and there will be a lot of people watching it.”
Hearn went on to express his disappointment at seeing Tyson, one of the greatest fighters in boxing history, participate in a fight against a much younger opponent like Paul. Despite recognizing the commercial appeal of the matchup, Hearn’s love for the sport of boxing makes it difficult for him to witness Tyson’s return to the ring.
As the boxing world gears up for this highly anticipated event, fans and critics alike will be watching closely to see how the fight unfolds between these two very different opponents.
