Barry Hearn, one of the greatest sports promoters that ever lived, from the UK, has responded to the big event in Texas last Friday.
Jake Paul beat Mike Tyson with the undercard producing amazing fights however — with Barrios and Taylor.
Paul, a gifted promoter, is known to Hearn.
Barry Hearn speaking on Talk Sport said:
“Jake Paul, of course, defeated 58-year-old Mike Tyson in a professionally sanctioned bout in Texas in the early hours of Saturday morning. But the question remains: was this a good or bad thing for the sport? Declaring the winner by unanimous decision: Jake Paul.
I was concerned about Mike Tyson. His legs looked shaky. You and I know this, and everyone will soon realize it—father time waits for no one. It was excruciating to watch, painful even. It was a sad sight. We should be very careful not to exploit iconic 58-year-old boxers like Mike Tyson. He is a legend, but he’s pushing the limits of boxing. On the other hand, Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor are both making more money now than they ever did, thanks to better management and greater recognition. I love that Jake Paul is helping bring attention to other fighters.
Jake Paul beating Mike Tyson in the early hours of Saturday morning caused a stir across the world, as it was clearly meant to. The debate, however, centers on whether it was morally right to put a 58-year-old in the ring with someone 21 years younger. Joining us now in the studio for more on this and other topics is Barry Hearn, the founder of Matchroom. Morning, Barry.
Good morning, Jeff. How are you doing?
I’m enjoying life, wonderful.
It looks like you are. I mean, I don’t know how long it’s been since we first met, but you haven’t changed at all. Seriously, it’s been a long time.
Yeah, it’s been a while. You still wear short trousers?
Well, I normally wear short trousers because my legs are so short! But it’s an interesting point you’re making about Mike Tyson being exploited. Was he?
Of course not. He exploited himself. There was only one person who signed the contract, and that was Mike. He knew exactly what he was doing. It was a horrible spectacle to watch, but 60 million households around the world tuned in. That’s 240 million people when you factor in an average of four people per household. That’s bigger than the Olympics, Wimbledon, or even the World Darts Championship. It was a massive event. Both fighters made a lot of money, and everyone involved probably profited in some way. If we take the moral high ground, should a 58-year-old be in the ring? The answer is clearly no. Tyson looked dreadful after the first round and a half. Jake Paul said he held back, not wanting to hurt him badly. I suppose that made it less of a spectacle. It wasn’t a competitive fight, but it was a money-making opportunity for both of them, and they took it with both hands.
Do you think it damaged the spectacle of boxing going forward?
I don’t think you can damage boxing. It’s been damaged beyond belief over the years. People have gotten used to oddities like this. The fights today are at a higher standard than ever before. With the money coming in from places like Saudi Arabia, we can make real 50/50 fights because the fighters are being paid so much. But yes, you’ll still see shows like these Misfits events, where people with passion, energy, and a following get involved. You’d be great on one of those shows—people would watch! But if you’re asking whether I’d ever fight Oscar De La Hoya—my son is actually talking about it—I mean, are you serious? Eddie’s 45, a big guy, but he’s no pro boxer. Yet he’s talking about a fight with De La Hoya, one of the all-time greats. Why? Because the money’s got to be right, and for a fight like that, we’re talking 20 million. That gets people’s attention.
It’s going to have a lot of critics, no question about it, but is there a positive aspect in that Jake Paul, the YouTuber, is attracting young people to boxing?
I think a fight like that has definitely attracted an audience that wouldn’t normally watch boxing. If they like what they saw, that could only be good for the sport. Of course, you could argue that the fight might be enough to turn people off boxing entirely, but the kids I know, and my grandchildren, were talking about it because Mike Tyson is a legendary name. He’s cashed in on that legacy. People are even talking about a rematch—please, God, let’s not see it again. But you can expect more of these types of fights in the future. Most great fighters are talking about coming back for big paydays, like Kyle Frampton who’s mentioned fighting Logan Paul. Logan Paul, while not a superstar, has 50 million followers and can make waves in the sport. The world is changing. We used to watch sports sitting with our parents, but now kids are upstairs on their tablets or phones, watching and paying to watch what they want. As always, the customer is always right, and you have to go with the market.
Do you think Jake Paul can box?
He can box a bit, yeah. He’s not bad. Could he step in with a true professional, someone still near their prime? No, nowhere near. He’d get completely destroyed. But I’d rate him as a semi-decent six or eight-round fighter. An area title fight would be his greatest expectation. And by the way, winning an area title is no easy feat. Credit to anyone who’s done that. To his credit, Jake Paul takes the sport seriously. He trains hard, has a good team around him, and is as professional as he can be, even if his ability is limited.
With Mike Tyson, at 58 years old, I assume there were stringent medical tests before the fight?
Yes, there are medical checks required before any fight. But realistically, it was probably one of the easiest fights to predict. Mike came out swinging hard, hoping for an early knockout, but it didn’t happen. The fight was over two-minute rounds, which is unusual since most pro bouts are three-minute rounds. I don’t know if you’ve ever worn gloves, but after a minute or two, your hands get heavy. After four minutes, lifting your hands becomes difficult. There’s also the nervous energy, especially when you’re 58. Mike, to his credit, wasn’t overweight, but age catches up with you.
How old are you now?
I’m 62.
Well, I’m 76. And the thing is, men always think they can fight. We’re the immature part of society. Every man thinks he’s 18 and can fight anyone. The reality is, when the bell rings, no one’s there to help you. And as Tyson famously said, everyone has a plan until they get hit in the face.
Yeah, that’s true. Speaking of great fights, there was a fantastic one on the undercard with Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano. You’ve always been a visionary, Barry. Did you ever envision that someone like Katie Taylor, a female boxer, could become a household name and a boxing legend?
Funny enough, it’s easy to say we saw it coming, but women’s sport has really changed dramatically. The women’s Euro football tournament, for example, inspired my grandchildren to play football, something that was unthinkable years ago. Now, it’s a major part of their lives. Women have been breaking barriers for some time. I had my first female fighter at York Hall years ago—a Polish fighter who was a world champion at the time. She was a killer in the ring. When I first took her to York Hall, I was being innovative by bringing a female boxer into the mix, but it didn’t mean much at the time because there weren’t many women in the sport. She trained and changed with the men. She was tough and no one messed with her. But now, women’s sports have a wider audience, and society accepts women in these roles, tuning in to watch. Katie Taylor is the perfect example. She’s a role model—tough as nails in the ring, but a beautiful person outside it. Ireland should be incredibly proud of her—and humanity, too.
I remember telling her years ago, if I had a daughter, I’d want her to be just like Katie. She’s a Christian lady, a beautiful person, but when she steps into the ring, she’s a monster. And the way she and Amanda Serrano fought—when they fought the first time at Madison Square Garden—it was electric. The last two rounds, the entire sold-out arena was on its feet. The atmosphere was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, and the action was incredible. It was a stark contrast to the Tyson fight, which was a slugfest. Katie, though, she’s got a few more years left in her. I spoke to her yesterday and told her, ‘You’ve got a couple of great fights left in you.’ She’s 37 or 38, but she’s a true pro.
It’s great to hear that she’s got a few fights left in her because she’s one of the best!”
Interesting response from Hearn.
Barry Hearn is a good sports promoter. That cannot be denied.
