Mike Tyson’s best positioned as an elder statesman, not an old fighter

Mike Tyson’s name value is such that the now 58-year-old former heavyweight champion can express interest in returning to the ring and an NFL stadium in Texas is booked for the card.

And while we’re about six weeks from Tyson’s “comeback” exhibition against Jake Paul at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium, there seems to be a better use of Tyson’s time: Expressing his boxing knowledge.

Tyson, who stages his own podcast, “HotBoxin’ With Mike Tyson,” appeared this week on the “Come and Talk To Me” podcast and weighed in on several relevant matters brewing in the boxing industry.

Tyson urged former three-belt welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. to return to fighting after his demoralizing beatdown against Terence Crawford in July 2023.

“A loss to somebody like that means nothing,” Tyson said. “(Spence) can still make a lot of money if he returns.”

Regarding the unbeaten Crawford, who became a four-division champion Aug. 3 by defeating Israil Madrimov by a narrow unanimous decision for the WBA junior-middleweight belt, Tyson said he has no interest in watching Crawford try to move up two more weight classes to fight three-belt super-middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez.

“I don’t like that fight,” Tyson said. “It’s just too much weight. And he had a close fight with the last guy [Madrimov] he fought because this guy was big, and he was awkward. He was really awkward.”

While Alvarez has drawn the fury of fight fans for avoiding unbeaten former super-middleweight champion David Benavidez until a richer payday emerges, Crawford’s move toward the Alvarez mismatch is also a greed play.

Having Tyson’s voice on it matters.

On Tuesday’s edition of ProBox TV’s “TopStories,” analysts Chris Algieri and Paulie Malignaggi discussed how this role as a boxing ambassador better fits Tyson than the carnival scene of him returning to box the YouTuber.

“When (Tyson) speaks, people listen,” Algieri said. “He’s got a lot of sage advice to young fighters coming up and also has a deep understanding of the history of the sport. He studied the all-time greats of the past, which is something I think a lot of young fighters are really lacking these days.

“He’s an elder statesman, an absolute superstar who moved the needle. It’s a vital influence in the sport today.”

Of course, there’s more money in the prospect of stepping in the ring once more, but as that date nears, there is increasing concern over Tyson fighting after he previously required a postponement to deal with ulcers.

A prominent state athletic commission head told BoxingScene last week that if it were up to him, Tyson would not be allowed to fight given everything that’s known about a veteran boxer’s brain and the effects of age.

Beloved now after standing as a more divisive figure who was imprisoned for rape between his heavyweight championships, Tyson made some valid points in his comments on Spence and Crawford-Alvarez, Algieri said.

“I want Errol Spence to get back in the ring, too,” Algieri said. “He is aging. He has a lot of miles on his tires, but I do want to see that (WBC/WBO junior-middleweight title) fight against (champion Sebastian) Fundora, and maybe even go to 160 (middleweight), which is barren.

“And Crawford-Canelo, a lot of people – especially boxing people – are not interested in that fight. It is a crossover fight with a lot of eyes on that … I want Crawford to get paid the money he deserves. He spent a lot of time not getting those dollars. Someone as skillful and good as he is, I want him to get that fight. In terms of watching that fight, I don’t care that much.”

Former welterweight champion Malignaggi added, “I’m not that interested myself.”

But having Tyson’s voice contributing to events of the day is meaningful, Malignaggi said. The former champion is among the most popular individuals in the world. 

“Anything he says moves the needle. Mike still has that presence about him,” Malignaggi said. “If Mike did a show on boxing, a lot of people would tune in and listen. He’s a knowledgeable, astute guy and obviously the former heavyweight champion.”

So why imperil that position?

“For that reason, you’d prefer for him not to fight again,” Malignaggi said. “Look what he can do with his knowledge of boxing. He had some thoughts and we’re here talking about them. In Tyson’s place, I’d love to see him just do shows and put those thoughts out there.”

Given the investment in the Netflix card that includes the Amanda Serrano-Katie Taylor rematch and Tyson’s own obvious push for an influx of massive cash, Tyson-Paul will likely proceed.

“I don’t want to see Mike fight,” Algieri said, reminding that Tyson’s Roy Jones Jr. aged exhibition was three years ago. “This position as an elder statesman doing shows and documentaries … he’s perfect for that.”