Nearly 40 years after his professional debut, and 19 years after retiring, 58-year-old Mike Tyson will return to the ring on Friday in a Netflix-backed bout that has stirred widespread condemnation in the boxing world.

Tyson, who dominated the heavyweight division in the late 1980s, will lace up the gloves once more to face YouTuber Jake Paul, 27, in an officially sanctioned fight at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas.

The bout, set for eight two-minute rounds, was initially scheduled for July but was postponed in May when Tyson required medical treatment after vomiting blood on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles due to a bleeding ulcer.

The incident has fuelled criticism of Friday’s fight, with many condemning it as a macabre spectacle that poses undue risk for Tyson, who last appeared in a professional ring in 2005, ending in a technical knockout loss after quitting on his stool against Irish journeyman Kevin McBride.

‘It Shouldn’t Be Happening’

“Mike Tyson retired from boxing 20 years ago and was already worn out,” British promoter Eddie Hearn said this week.

“If anyone thinks Mike Tyson should be in a ring at this age, you either have absolutely no concern for him, or you’re being reckless. This shouldn’t be happening.”

Hearn’s fellow promoter, Frank Warren, echoed the sentiment.

“Mike Tyson is 58 years of age and he shouldn’t be fighting,” Warren said. “It’s as simple as that.”

Comparing the fight to a roadside accident, Warren added, “You’re on the motorway, and everyone’s slowing down just to look at a crash — that’s what this is.”

Tyson, reportedly earning around $20 million for the bout, has dismissed concerns for his wellbeing, claiming critics are motivated by jealousy.

“I’m beautiful, that’s all I can say,” he responded earlier this year. “Those who criticise wish they were in my place. No one else can do this.”

At an open workout in Texas this week, Tyson declared that his intense training camp had convinced him he was tougher than he’d realised.

“When I agreed to this fight, I thought, ‘What was I thinking?’ But I completed the process. The fight is the celebration. All the hard work is done.”

At Wednesday’s press conference in Texas, a focused Tyson avoided pre-fight hype, saying simply, “I’m just ready to fight.”

Injury Fears

A global audience on Netflix and thousands in AT&T Stadium will be watching on Friday to see if Tyson’s efforts pay off.

Paul, who was born six months before Tyson famously bit off a portion of Evander Holyfield’s ear in their 1997 rematch, first gained fame on YouTube before turning to boxing.

Since his first bout against a fellow YouTuber in 2018, Paul has fought various opponents, including a basketball player, MMA fighters, and other professional boxers. In 11 matches, he has won 10 (seven by knockout) and lost one.

“I feel really good, sharp, powerful, and explosive. It’s going to be a short night for Mike,” Paul said at Tuesday’s open workout, where he sported a rooster-shaped headdress.

It’s clear that a prime, 1980s Tyson would likely have disposed of Paul within minutes. But does Tyson still retain any trace of the power and skill that made him the youngest heavyweight champion in history in 1986, at age 20?

Veteran promoter Bob Arum, 92, is blunt.

“The answer is no,” Arum told SecondsOut.com last month.

“A 58-year-old man, no matter how good or athletic they were, can’t compete at that level anymore.”

“I hope Mike doesn’t get hurt, but I really give him almost no chance.”

AFP

In the midst of the ongoing leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that he will not be brought down by anyone.

Speaking during a media session in Abuja, Wike attributed the party’s struggles to personal ambitions that have led to internal sabotage. He pointed out that some members of the party are focused solely on undermining him, rather than working towards the PDP’s unity.

“The problem is not that the PDP cannot get its act together; it’s the issue of personal ambition,” Wike explained. “The constant effort to bring me down is what has caused the crisis. But I won’t be defeated. Wike will not go down.”

Wike’s statements underscore the deepening divisions within the PDP as rival factions vie for control.

Former Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has urged his critics and the sponsors of petitions against him before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to counter his responses if they have any substantial evidence.

Okowa stated this during a solidarity visit from the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council, led by its Chairman, Maj.-Gen. Felix Mujakperuo (retd), Orodje of Okpe, Orhue I, at his residence in Asaba on Thursday.

Okowa expressed that the allegations presented in the petitions and circulated in the media were unfounded and politically driven. He described them as “malicious and mischievous,” emphasizing that his actions throughout his tenure were in the best interests of Delta State.

“The accusations put forth are politically motivated, intended to tarnish my image. In politics, such challenges come with the territory, but it’s disappointing that the narratives spread in the media lack substance,” he stated.

The visit from Delta’s traditional leaders underscored their unified stance, emphasizing respect for Okowa’s contributions to the state and his commitment to integrity in office.

According to him, in politics, there are all kinds of things that you go through, but it’s just unfortunate that the news that was communicated to the media was not reasonable enough.

“There are certain things that you see that are probably imaginable, but there are things you see, and they are unintelligent lies because alleging that somebody misappropriated N1.3 trillion is ridiculous.

“The implication of that is that the person will have to take a minimum of N16 to N20 billion every month for 96 months.

“So it’s not just unreasonable but unfortunate because this kind of thing has been prepared. I was outside the country for 30 days and I saw when someone wrote that I was detained for three days and I had not even been invited then; so, you can see that grounds were prepared for the propaganda they released.

“As for the EFCC investigation, I am not afraid of any investigation, neither will I stop the EFCC from carrying out their investigations because they must do their work.

“Some governors will go to court to stop them, but I will not stop them because they are doing their normal duties. But, the important thing is that the right communication must be put to the public.

“Unfortunately, some individuals were able to sway a section of the media to send the wrong communication out there,” the former governor said.

He disclosed that he answered the questions EFCC officials asked him, saying “and, I believe that they themselves will know that those things were obvious lies because the information that was put there is not the same with the petition before the EFCC. So, it’s just politics.

“I know it’s just politics because I know all the angles that it came from. But, this will not deter me from doing what I can do, and I thank God for Delta State. With the collective support of everybody, we were able to do the best that we could for the state.

“It is for us to continue to stay focused as a state. It is not possible for everybody in the state to think in the same manners, but it is up to them to communicate the right thing out there rather than lying to the public.”

Okowa said that his administration in the state performed what had been acknowledged as great in and outside the state.

According to him, we may not have made a lot of noise, but we can beat our chest with the advice of our fathers, like you, and with the collective support of the people of Delta State, a lot was done, and I thank God.

“Some people may have grudges, but it is up to them to communicate in the right manners rather than lying to the public because there is nothing hidden.

“The audited accounts of the State is a process that goes through the House of Assembly, and the figures are out there for every year.

“They have done lots of investigations on what we have done in the state and I am sure they are impressed with what they have seen.

“All the projects that we did are all there. They have come to check all the projects, and just two days ago, the Commissioner for Higher Education was here, and he was telling me about the progress made so far in the three new universities.

“They are entering their final year now, and they will be graduating their first set next year. I am told that this year alone, the University of Delta, Agbor admitted 4,500 students while Ozoro took 4,000 students and Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, admitted 3,000.

“So just imagine that over 30,000 students are currently admitted in these three universities already, and they are all running simultaneously.

“We are the only state with four state universities running, and we are not owing salaries while infrastructure is being developed simultaneously in all the universities,” Okowa stated.

He added that his administration did a lot to combat flooding in Asaba and Warri and commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for continuing with the Warri Storm Water Drainage project, which was 80 per cent completed at the moment.

“We took our development up to the riverine areas, and they know the level we went in paving and providing concrete roads for them, and we thank God for all these.

“I thank God for fathers like you who were always around, and if we did not do well, you would have shouted to us to do well.

“I want to assure you that I am not disturbed. It’s one of those things we see in politics, and I am sure that the right information is out there now, and I want them to controvert what we put out there.

“You are fathers to this state and you are also fathers to me, and I thank you for all the support you gave to me throughout my eight years in office.

“I believe that with your prayers, Delta State was peaceful throughout my 8 years in office, and I am glad for this warm visit because when your fathers come to visit and pray for you, all will be well with you,” he stated.

Earlier, the chairman of the traditional rulers’ council had said that their mission was in solidarity with the former governor over his travails with the EFCC, adding that they would continue to pray for him because he was good to them while in office.

“We know you want to excel and that is why they are worrying you. You are a good man, and we were all worried when all these started. Good men will always have problems, but let me assure you that you shouldn’t be worried because we will continue to pray for you.

“The enemies may be rejoicing that they have got you, but the law says until you are proven guilty, you are not guilty, and we know your hands are clean.

“We have come here to show solidarity with you and to tell you that we care about you because you are a nice man, and your relationship with traditional rulers has been cordial, and it will continue to be cordial.

“Not all of us may be here but we decided to send a delegation to tell you that we are behind you,” he said.