Hollywood star Michael Jai White gets brutally honest about Mike Tyson and boxing legends competing in professional fights
Mike Tyson's recent return to professional boxing was scrutinized by action movie star and respected martial artists Michael Jai White in a recent VLADTV interview. Unfortunately, Tyson isn't the only over-the-hill boxing icon who has made attempts at returning to fighting long past their career's expiration date.
When asked for his take on the situation, White did not mince words, arguing that aging boxing legends ought to remain retired instead of committing to fruitless returns to the ring, especially under professional rule-sets. At the very least, he would be open to watching them fight in exhibition bouts.
So, when asked if Tyson should ever fight again, White said:
"I've just, kind of, answered that. It can, like I said with [Evander] Holyfield, with [Riddick] Bowe or something. There's... I would hope they would do this and with a smile on their face, and do it as an exhibition. They've more than proved themselves. Why not have fun? I would pay to watch them spar. I would pay to watch them spar, and I think the rest of the world will too."
Check out Michael Jai White's thoughts below (7:20):
White isn't without reason, as aging boxing legends typically do poorly in their return bouts, even against less skillful opposition. The negative effects of old age are simply too great for them to surmount, causing Tyson, one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time, to lose to an unremarkable boxer in Jake Paul.
The same fate befell Evander Holyfield, who was TKO'd by Vitor Belfort within a round of their exhibition bout. Similarly, the great Roy Jones Jr. was outboxed to a majority decision loss by Anthony Pettis, who is predominantly a kicker in MMA.
Michael Jai White previously picked Mike Tyson over Jake Paul
Ahead of the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match, which 'Iron Mike' lost, Michael Jai White took part in another VLADTV interview. When providing his prediction for the bout, White felt that Paul lacked the physical attributes to trouble Tyson and was far too open to body shots.
"Big guys would hold Mike. Guys with long reach that outweigh him. People that's Mike's weight? Mike's center of gravity? I don't think there's anything that's gonna stop him. Mike hits him in the body, the body doesn't move that much. I don't see how Jake survives a body attack."
Check out Michael Jai White's past prediction for Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson (0:53):
Ultimately, White's prediction was wrong, as Tyson looked slow and cumbersome in the ring, losing via unanimous decision.