Mike Tyson, the 58-year-old former heavyweight champion who recently recovered from a stomach ulcer, is scheduled to go up against 27-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a boxing match at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Friday. The fight offers a staggering $40m in prize money and has drawn criticism from the boxing community for being seen as a product of celebrity culture that undermines the sport. The matchup, authorized by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, is part of a trend of unconventional fights involving celebrities and former professionals.
The concept of celebrity boxing matches has been around for years, but was usually limited to charity events and short-lived TV shows. However, recent years have seen a rise in popularity, with high-profile matches such as Conor McGregor vs Floyd Mayweather Jr in 2017 and KSI vs Jake Paul in 2018. The desire for big paydays and the opportunity to relive past glories seem to be motivating factors for celebrities and ex-professionals to step into the ring.
The trend reached new heights in 2023 when tech moguls Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk appeared to agree to a cage fight, although the match never materialized. Sociologist Caroline Knowles attributes the popularity of celebrity fighting to the hyper-masculine nature of extreme wealth and competition.
While celebrity matchups bring in money and interest, they have been criticized for devaluing the sport of boxing by not representing true boxing standards. Some in the boxing community feel that these matches are dangerous, irresponsible, and disrespectful to the sport. However, the appeal of celebrity boxing matches lies in their simplicity compared to the complex world of multiple titles and rankings in professional boxing.
Despite concerns about the impact of celebrity boxing on the sport, the matches continue to attract attention and viewership.