Eddie Hearn, the chairman of Matchroom Boxing, has made it clear that he won’t be tuning in for the upcoming boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson.
This highly anticipated fight is set to take place next month at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. Originally scheduled for July 20, the event was pushed back due to health issues faced by the legendary Mike Tyson. During the delay, Jake Paul took on Mike Perry as a last-minute replacement and secured a sixth-round knockout.
For Tyson, this matchup marks his first professional fight since he faced Kevin McBride back in 2005. At 58 years old, many are worried about the former champion’s well-being as he prepares for this return to the ring. Hearn is among those concerned, and he shared his thoughts on the situation in a recent interview.
Speaking to TalkSport, Hearn described the upcoming fight as a “huge shame.” It’s interesting to note that he is involved in the event, as he promotes Katie Taylor, who will be featured in a co-main event against Amanda Serrano. Their matchup is a highly awaited rematch following Taylor’s narrow victory over Serrano in April 2022.
Boxing Promoter Eddie Hearn Will Not Watch Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson
While Hearn supports Taylor and her fight, he has no interest in the main event. He stated that he would be leaving the arena before the Paul vs. Tyson bout begins. Hearn, a longtime boxing fan, finds it hard to watch a legend like Tyson take unnecessary risks in the ring.
“I think it’s a huge shame that one of the biggest legends of the sport comes back 20 years after everybody knew he shouldn’t be boxing anymore,” Hearn said when discussing the fight.
He continued, “At 55 or however old he is. He’s 58? Jesus Christ, he’s nearly 60.”
Tyson’s Age Concerns Hearn
His concern goes beyond mere age. Hearn feels that allowing Tyson to fight again shows a lack of respect for the sport. He expressed that if anything were to happen to Tyson during the match, it would be on the promoters and those involved.
Hearn added, “You have no respect for the sport of boxing if you put Mike Tyson in a ring at 58 years of age. And if he gets hurt, then it’s on those people… I’ll watch Katie Taylor and then I’ll leave. I can’t watch that.”
These comments from Eddie Hearn raise important questions about the safety of fighters, especially as they age. While the hype around celebrity matches continues to grow, the risks cannot be ignored.
So, what do you think about Hearn’s statements? Are you planning to watch the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight next month?
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
