Is it a mind game? A last attempt to get under the enemy’s skin? Or is it the clearest sign that his heart is not right?
Mike Tyson said only 27 words in response to four questions when Ariel Helwani – the host of the official fight press conference in Texas on Wednesday night – opened the media’s questions.
This is an understated performance from Tyson, not only a sports legend but one of the most famous athletes of all time, for good and bad.
To address Helwani’s first question, he asked Tyson if he was back to where he was closest before his exciting and divisive fight with influencer Jake Paul, which will be broadcast live on Netflix on Friday night.
“I’m back, yeah,” Tyson replied. ‘I’m just happy to be here.’
The second question came from Paulus, preparing for his 12th pro fight. ‘He said he was going to kill me,’ said the YouTuber-turned-boxer. ‘Is that true, Mike? I’m ready. I want that killer. I don’t want an excuse when I knock you out.’
In response, Tyson said: ‘I’m just ready, that’s all I can say. I’m just ready.’
Helwani then brought up a quote that Tyson had recently given in which he described Paul as ‘an artificial killer, not a natural killer’ like him.
‘Yeah, that’s what I said,’ Tyson said, before being asked to expand on what he meant. ‘That’s just what I said.’
The last question in the official part of the press conference was in reference to Cus D’Amato, the man who rescued Tyson from the streets and became the youngest heavyweight champion of all time.
“He’s going to be very happy,” Tyson said when asked what his mentor would think of the fight. And how did Cus send him to defeat Paul? ‘He will be very happy.’
It is not uncommon for fighters to die as they approach a battle at night, their minds always focused on the importance of what is to come, the rewards for winning and the consequences for losing.
Many fighters also felt uncomfortable in front of the media, which Helwani pointed out when he tried to roast the soft-spoken and well-spoken Katie Taylor in Ireland.
Tyson produced some of the most foul-mouthed, controversial outbursts in boxing history during his prime, once telling a fan ‘I’ll f*** you until you love me, f*****!’
He certainly mellowed in the new year, but it is still rare to see a fighter offer become little, especially in events literally designed to ignite interest.
The slightly awkward atmosphere did not escape Taylor opponent Amanda Serrano, who expressed sympathy for her fellow New Yorker who did the presser.
‘First of all, I want to ask how Ariel is doing? I know you are in a tough spot right now! she said, giggling.
Tyson’s persona wasn’t lost on fans at the Toyota Music Factory, with some asking ‘what happened to Mike?’ when we left the arena.
If you’re feeling generous you can call it laidback and focused – not like a bad state of mind during the war week – but others thought he looked disinterested, unmotivated, even.
The fact Mike Tyson and Jake Paul are, by all accounts, on good terms may be a factor. Make no mistake Tyson wants to win – The seventh L in the professional record waits if not – but clearly does not hate Paul.
Another generous take is that ‘Iron Mike’ was trying to get under Paul’s skin, trying to irk him whose whole life and career is centered around online attraction, attention and views.
The 27-year-old is likely to be a little peeved that it’s a big night for his boxing career and this brand turns into a damp squib and says a lot, describing Tyson’s response as ‘f*****g boring’.
‘There’s been a lot of s*** talk online, you said you’d kill me, and it’s just not in person,’ Jake said. ‘It’s… I don’t know, it’s pretty boring. It’s boring enough.’
Perhaps that explains why the new boxer, who has over 20 million subscribers on YouTube, taking matters into their own hands and available to highlight the press conference, approaching every single fighter on the undercard who has predicted Mike Tyson’s win and asking them to put their money where their mouth is.
‘I’ll shake all the hands and take the money,’ Jake said while calling out the likes of Mario Barrios, Neeraj Goyat and even Katie Taylor. ‘I will get this contract signed.’
American fighter Bruce Carrington may be sitting on stage with the NABF and WBO inter-continental featherweight titles but he also looked sheepish when he faced Jake Paul.
‘How much do you want to lose?’ He asked the influencer, who brutally replied: ‘Bro, I made more money than you will ever make in your life. keep quiet.’
It’s possible that, at 58, Tyson no longer has the energy or motivation to talk trash, especially to an opponent who wasn’t even born when he first became a world champion.
Maybe, just, it’s a good sign for the fans and shows the mind has been working. Only time will tell.
Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson will be streaming live on Netflix on Friday November 15th.
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