Metal Mondays: Paul-Tyson fight highlights ethical, moral failings in sports

Over 60 million people across the world gathered around their TVs and phone screens Friday night to watch the biggest boxing spectacle since the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Conor McGregor fight in 2017. Jake Paul, of YouTube fame and newfound boxing success, was set to take on living legend Mike Tyson in the ring. What was supposed to be a thrilling battle between the two sides of boxing ended up being more of a tragedy, and the 60 million viewers who stayed on through Netflix’s buffering ultimately faced their own decisions and mortality rather than a fight.

Coming into the ring, Paul represented the next generation of fighters who prioritize internet presence and theatrics alongside physical endurance. Riding into AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on a Tesla Model X with his girlfriend, a birdcage with pigeons to troll Tyson and an overabundance of jewelry, Paul leaned into his obnoxious persona many associate him with.

Tyson, on the other hand, who walked into the stadium in a black towel with the letters “LF / GO” sewn onto it, embodied a bygone era of combat  sports. This was the first sign of many to follow that pointed at the main difference between Paul and Tyson: Tyson is 58 years old, while Paul is only 27.