Talk about Mike Tyson getting a world title shot at the height of his renaissance is a stark reminder that boxing is still on the wrong track.
Tyson returned in November 2020 and broke the exhibition Pay Per View record against Roy Jones Jr.
Mike Tyson
But even before anyone fired a punch in anger, Tyson was gaining column inches in some magazines as a world title candidate.
That, combined with YouTubers outranking actual rivals in the top PPV standings, indicates that the sport remains broken.
Tyson was embarrassed even when named in the same breath as Tyson Fury, or when offered a shot at the WBA secondary strap. Boxing should also be embarrassed.
Tyson responded with a red face to the thought of contending for the world heavyweight belt, as proposed by his current coach Rafael Cordero.
“Well, I know nothing about that. But I know Rafael is a very special trainer,” Tyson told TMZ. “I can see him being so enthusiastic due of the effort we put in.
“If it is for charity, I am willing to do it. It’s entertainment. And it is for charity. It is for a good cause. “But we’re doing our best.”
Mike Tyson’s World Title Shot
Mike isn’t nearly as eager as Cordero. Despite his age, the 56-year-old is still associated with fighting.
Tyson’s popularity skyrocketed after the pay-per-view event, which sold 1.5 million tickets. Several social media videos featuring the ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’ tearing it up in the gym aided the promotion greatly.
Tyson’s quick thirty-second bursts of furious striking left tongues talking about his return to glory.
However, on that night, two aging combatants were simply attempting to do what they could no longer do. Enthusiasm is one thing, but Cordero had the bizarre idea that the veteran could one day challenge international leaders.
Looking fantastic in a brief clip is one thing, but Tyson lacked it as his career came to an end at the age of 38. How can he get it back after sixteen years?
It’s unclear how Tyson’s ability to face Fury has improved over time when he couldn’t defeat Danny Williams or Kevin McBride previously.
Smokescreens
The truth is that he cannot. It’s just smoke and mirrors to make money. The actual boxers suffer as a result of the diverted attention.
It’s fine for the Tyson vs Jones match, but when YouTubers and TikTokkers are involved, things get out of hand.
Tyson wanted to be in the spotlight once more. That’s understandable, and he wanted to do good with his money.
“I am 100% committed to donating money. I wouldn’t be doing this unless it was for a greater purpose than myself.”
It is a commendable gesture that some of today’s non-boxers should think about before planning their next money grab.
Muddy waters
When promoters and television refuse to collaborate, boxing faces a difficult problem of putting together the best contests. Now we have non-boxers muddying the waters and diverting attention away from the true stars.
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