Jim Lampley believes Mike Tyson is playing a dangerous game this weekend.
On Friday, Tyson faces Jake Paul in an eight-round boxing match in what is likely to be the biggest combat sports event of the year. Though Tyson is a former heavyweight champion, he’s also pushing 58 years of age and facing a man 30 years his junior, which has led to some concern among fans about the wisdom of going forward with the matchup. And longtime boxing commentator Jim Lampley seems to be among those who believe Tyson is taking a big risk.
“I hope that Mike makes a ton of money,” Lampley told Fight Hub TV. “He’s a dear and old friend. My television boxing career began calling his first several exposures on ABC sports back in the 80s. I’ve known him a long time, love him, I want his life to be what he wants it to be and so I hope that Mike does well in the business of the fight and doesn’t get hurt.
“Obviously when a man is 57, almost 58 years old going into the ring, I don’t care who the opponent is. The opponent could be a figure skater, he’s still taking a chance. And so I think Mike is taking a chance with this because Jake Paul will train, Jake Paul will lift weights, Jake Paul will get himself into shape to do the best that he can possibly do and try to land one big shot and separate Mike from his senses long enough to get a win.
“So I think the essence of the drama is ‘is Jake Paul going to knock Mike out or is Mike going to go through the necessary motions and show enough energy and commitment over the course of however many rounds it takes to gradually beat down Jake Paul and get a win. And I hope Mike comes out of it healthy and wealthier.”
Though Tyson had an exhibition bout against Roy Jones Jr. in 2020, this will be his first professional fight in almost 20 years. That a long time on the shelf and given his advanced age, Lampley says that come Friday he will not be watching along.
“The age difference is big enough that the event is dangerous,” Lampley said. “And I kind of wish Mike found some other way to do business rather than to fight somebody who’s Jake’s age and has a chance to get into the kind of shape that Jake might get into. But he’s still a far, far piece removed from understanding boxing and having the kind of refined skills that Mike had at his peak.
“Again, the question is, how much of Mike do you get to see when he’s 57 years old? I love him, I’m rooting for him, I’m not going to make the buy. It’s not an event that I want to see. It’s too much of a distortion. It’s not competition, it’s a freak show.”
Despite many boxing luminaries sharing Lampley’s trepidation about this matchup, Tyson insists there’s nothing to worry about, saying he’s in a much better place than he was 20 years ago. And while Lampley may not share that belief with Tyson, he does ultimately think that come Friday, Tyson will end up OK.
“The vast majority of those people, who pay attention to Mike because of his celebrity and his illustrious image don’t know anything about boxing,” Lampley said. “They don’t really understand the risk that he’s taking by going into the ring. We’re not faking it here. People are going to hit each other. And again … he’s 57, 58 years old.
“I think he’ll be fine. I think he probably still has enough craft that he can protect himself int he right way against somebody who, no matter how long he trains, is still at that level of novice. So I think that Mike is going to be OK. But my biggest hope about the entire event is that nothing bad happens to my friend.”
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I sincerely hope Jim Lampley is correct.
Just a few more days and we’ll know one way or the other.
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