Oscar De La Hoya has returned with his weekly commentary feature, “The Thursday Clap Back“. This time, the former six-division champ “clapped back” and gave his thoughts on Jake Paul – Mike Tyson in Texas. The ‘Golden Boy’ joined the ranks of many who feel that the headline bout between them was a fluke.
Jake Paul vs. Tyson headlined MVP’s Netflix boxing event from the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium. The Youtuber-turned-prizefighter swiped out Mike Tyson via lopsided beatdown (80-72, 79-73, 79-73). The return of the 58-year-old boxing legend strayed from what the fans hoped for. But more than that, some think the MVP-Netflix card was rigged and not a competitive boxing bout, that includes Oscar De La Hoya.
Everybody is talking about how staged this fight was. I do believe it was scripted and I believe that Tyson was certainly held back. Look, I’m a fighter and I can see it. It goes on their record and it was sanctioned. Jake Paul paid to get the W on his record! For what? For your own personal satisfaction? …The real winners were Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor, who put on an incredible real fight
Oscar De La Hoya said on social media (🎥 : @OscarDeLaHoya/X and @oscardelahoya on IG)
As he always does, in his most florid manner, the final seconds of the show were for Canelo Alvarez and death of boxing. Saying that boxing “is in hibernation“, he dissed the whole modern roost and even disaffirmed the event reaching 65 million households and an estimated 200 million viewers. Paul himself answered back at the blatant claims. In a now-deleted dual-tweet spree, he even alluded to his colorful ‘strip’ from the past.
@jakepaul 💩💩💩 pic.twitter.com/nHPOPaPXtW
— Oscar De La Hoya (@OscarDeLaHoya) November 22, 2024
The way the fight went, Tyson looking old and slow against a much younger opponent, is why so many big names were against it. The event was controversial, but got people talking about boxing. Other than Oscar De La Hoya, someone else also stirred the pot on this. While he did not level such serious accusations of throwing the pro bout, he said “Iron” Mike went easy on this one.
Sylvester Stallone reacts to Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson – says ‘Iron’ ‘spared’ his life
Sylvester Stallone has had his say on the biggest fight of the year so far – consensus heavyweight legend Mike Tyson returning. The three-time Academy Award nominee made his name playing the fictional boxer in the ‘Rocky‘ franchise. It launched his career and made him a multi-millionaire. He too tuned in recently to see “Kid Dynamite” return.
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation sanctioned the bout, which saw Paul snag a 11-0 pro stat. “Iron” claimed moral victory in defeat after going the full eight rounds with a man 31 years his junior. But the controversy around him and Jake Paul was far from over.
The 58-year-old struggled to stand lean through pockets or work his range throughout the bout. But some fans billed that this was due to age. While he does not go the De La Hoya route of saying he threw the bout, Stallone hints Tyson gave it out on grace.
Just to set my personal record straight. Business is business. SOMETIMES you have to do hard things and sacrifice for the sake of helping your FAMILY…. I have known this unbelievable athlete since he’s 19 years old… Please, Jake, be grateful, HE SPARED YOUR LIFE! Trust me ….. Keep punching Mike, there will never be a MAN like you, a GLADIATOR like you
Sylvester Stallone on Instagram (@officialslystallone)
Nakisa Bidarian, Paul’s advisor and the co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions, even had to weigh in on ‘rigged’ claims. He even had to pitch in against rigging it contractually so that Tyson couldn’t throw his signature close-quarter uppercut. Three-time Super Bowl champion Michael Irvin laid out the claims first.
For all the hype in the build-up, Paul and Tyson delivered what was largely expected, with Tyson, 58, looking his aged best. The streaming platform is also facing a class-action lawsuit over what fans bill a ‘rigged’ fight. However, critics be damned, Tyson is already saying he is open to returning yet again.
Related: Oscar De La Hoya worried for Mike Tyson as Jake Paul gears up to fight 58-year-old legend
