Jake Paul has managed to bring a boxing legend, Mike Tyson, back into the ring. In a highly anticipated fight at AT&T Stadium in Texas, history will be made on the night of Friday, November 15 to Saturday, November 16. ‘Iron Mike’ will step back into the ring, aiming to halt the hype train of the former YouTuber, now a social media phenomenon. While Tyson participated in an exhibition match in 2020 against Roy Jones Jr., this bout has the added weight of being counted toward his professional record, raising the stakes significantly.

Ahead of the fight, Jake Paul and his girlfriend, Jutta Leerdam, were seen in a face-off with Tyson, drawing massive media attention. Although Tyson remains intimidating with boxing gloves on, it’s been nearly 20 years since his last professional fight, which ended in a sixth-round TKO against Kevin McBride on June 11, 2005. Tyson’s later years in the ring painted a picture of a man whose fame and struggles had left him scarred. His fall from grace was marked by financial troubles and the destructive forces of fame and addiction.

Retirement didn’t make things easier for Tyson; in fact, it worsened his situation. Tyson squandered much of his earnings and faced extreme financial hardships. He even admitted to fearing the person he became when solely focused on boxing. In interviews, he’s been brought to tears reminiscing about the monster he created, as if he were a real-life Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. “I was born a killer,” he once told Jake Paul in the Netflix documentary leading up to their fight.

“This Fight Won’t Change My Financial Situation”

"This fight won't change my financial situation. Even if it were for free, it wouldn’t matter. My wife says I don’t need to do this. But it’s what I want; it’s part of who I am. I’m chasing my glory… It’s going to be incredible," Tyson recently stated.

Today, Tyson’s in a completely different stage of life—managing successful business ventures, displaying a calm demeanor, and showing that he’s come to terms with his turbulent past. Even so, he’s willing to summon his former self for a match where money is no longer the motivation.

The Natural-Born Fighter Returns

Tyson made his professional debut in 1985, and a year later, at age 20, he became the youngest heavyweight champion in history. With 50 wins in 58 fights, including 44 by KO, Tyson held an undefeated record of 37-0 until James “Buster” Douglas defeated him in 1990. Following prison time, he faced Evander Holyfield in two notorious fights. Tyson lost the first by an 11th-round KO, and in the infamous rematch, he was disqualified for biting Holyfield’s ear—a scandal that marked the beginning of the end for his career.

By then, Tyson’s tough-guy image had spiraled out of control. He had recently served three years in prison after a 1992 rape conviction, permanently tarnishing his reputation. Despite attempting a comeback from 1999 to 2005, his career was marked by drug tests, KOs, and unfulfilled potential.

“To my kids, I’m nobody. But that night, they’ll see their father is someone special,” Tyson hinted in the lead-up to his bout with Paul.

Tyson’s last victory was on February 22, 2003, when he KO’d Clifford Etienne in the first round. More than 21 years later, Tyson’s fighting spirit is drawing him back to the ring, ready to remind the world why he was once the most feared boxer in history.