The comeback trail blazes through Arizona, with Mike Tyson getting ready to step back into the ring. Training hard at Verde Valley BJJ, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu gym owned by none other than Maynard James Kennan, the frontman for Tool and A Perfect Circle, Tyson is showing he still holds an iron will to punch through expectations. Kenan took to Instagram to share a photo of Tyson visiting the gym, along with his wife, Lei Li Keenan, heralding the champ's return, reported 12News.
The 57-year-old Tyson has set the boxing world abuzz with his announcement to fight Jake Paul, a former YouTuber turned professional boxer, this July. While a video emerged of Tyson supporting himself with a cane, it was quickly debunked as outdated, and recent footage has emerged showing the boxing icon delivering punishing bare-knuckle blows to a heavy bag. These videos have been circulating, hammering home that Tyson's aged fists still carry the legendary power that once dominated the heavyweight scene, as per Marca.
Settling in Arlington, Texas, the bout is slated for July 20, and marks Netflix's first venture into live boxing broadcasts. It's expected to draw a massive viewership, given the high profiles of both combatants. The match is Tyson's first since an exhibition draw with Roy Jones Jr. in 2020 and comes nearly two decades after his last professional fight in 2005.
Paul, who debuted as a professional boxer in the same year Tyson last showcased his skills in an exhibition, holds a 9-1 career record. Despite the younger Paul being 30 years his junior, the fight feels tilted toward 'Iron Mike'. After sharing a video on Instagram with a look of concern, Paul may have inadvertently broadcasted his own trepidation about the confrontation. While advantage Tyson is the atmosphere, the ring in July is where scores are settled and legends can either be diminished or further burnished.
