Mike Tyson can boast of his seventh professional defeat after his one-sided defeat against Jake Paul on Friday evening in Texas.
Tyson pocketed $20 million for his legacy, leaving a permanent stain on his boxing record and the sport. Tyson is 50-7, has not played two games and will never be able to remove the check mark from his resume.
Fans of the heavyweight legend will forever have to grapple with the fact that Tyson was forced out of retirement to take on an influencer for content, praise and clicks. Fans who watched Mike rule the world as the youngest leader and undisputed champion of all time will no doubt have difficulty accepting that Tyson is no longer 50-6.
Tyson lost four of his last five fights and should have retired after the 49-3 win against Lennox Lewis.
In a statement, Tyson graciously declined another fight, although he said in the ring after the fight: “I don't think so. Maybe his brother.”
“It’s one of those situations where you lost but you still won. I'm grateful for last night. But I don’t regret getting in the ring one last time,” Tyson said.
“I almost died in June and had eight blood transfusions. I lost half my blood and 25 pounds in the hospital and had to fight to get healthy, to be able to fight, so I won.
“For my children to see me stand toe-to-toe and go eight rounds with a talented fighter half my age in front of a packed crowd is an experience that no human being should ask for. Thank you very much.”
Despite Tyson's admission that his career is now over, many blame Paul for putting an unnecessary blot on the boxing legend's playbook.
Former world champion Carl Froch lashed out at Paul after witnessing the shocking events at the AT&T Stadium from his home in Nottingham.
“It looked like Mike in this little circus,” emphasized “The Cobra”. “Jake Paul was either too scared to get involved or he didn’t want to hurt him.
“I don't think he could. I don't think Jake Paul is good enough. The fight itself was fucking crap. Mike Tyson is 58. But Jake Paul also put in a damn good performance.
“I don't like how he wants to say he didn't really try, because I think he actually tried at certain moments. And I don’t think he had the bottle to stand in front of Tyson and try to do anything to get him out of there.”
The hope is that one day Paul will take his boxing career seriously and stop making significant cuts. That's unlikely as Paul doesn't have enough talent to compete with anyone in the top 15 of a weight class.
The circus will continue.
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Read all of Phil Jay's articles and exclusive interviews. Find out more about the authorexperienced boxing writer and editor of World boxing News since 2010. Follow on Twitter @PhilJWBN.
