Terrence Crawford believes Mike Tyson ‘looked like trash’ during his defeat to Jake Paul during the early hours of Saturday morning.
Iron Mike went into the bout hoping to roll back the years and summon the magic of old, 19 years on from his last professional showdown.
But Tyson struggled against Paul, with the veteran throwing 97 punches to his opponent’s 97 – and connecting with just 18 per cent of them, too.
Many have hailed Tyson for how he performed, especially considering he’s 58.
Boxing news: Terrence Crawford believes Mike Tyson ‘looked like trash’ during his defeat to Jake Paul during the early hours of Saturday morning
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Yet Crawford, writing on X, has gone against the grain and said Tyson ‘looked like trash’ during the showdown.
“I love Mike Tyson, but they giving him too much credit,” he wrote. “He looked like trash, to train that long and only throw 97 punches the whole fight is crazy.
“I’m just glad he didn’t get hurt out there.”
Many fans have, however, been quick to defend Tyson following his defeat in Arlington.
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“He’s 58. Give him some respect. Let’s see you come back when you’re 58 and see what you can do. Lol,” said one user.
A second said: “Legs weren’t there tho, reaction time got worse as the rounds progressed. Mike Tyson was mentally in that ring but his body ain’t the same anymore. Just a cool story lol.”
A third wrote: “I doubt you can throw 97 punches in a fight at 58.”
Another fan opined: “I mean being able to go all 8 rounds at 58yo was pretty impressive IMO.”
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And a fifth hit back at Crawford by saying: “He made more than your whole career boxing a YouTuber. I know. It sucks.”
Meanwhile, Tyson has insisted he’s pleased with his display – having taken part in his first fight in four years.
Though he was unable to come out on top, and understandably looked a different man compared to his prime years, he says he’s proved a point to himself.
“I am happy,” he said. “I knew he was a good fighter. I knew he was prepared.
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I love Mike Tyson, but they giving him too much credit. He looked like trash, to train that long and only throw 97 punches the whole fight is crazy. I’m just glad he didn’t get hurt out there.
— Terence Crawford (@terencecrawford) November 16, 2024
“I didn’t prove nothing to anybody, only to myself. I am just happy with what I can do.”
Towards the end of the bout, Paul bowed to Tyson as a mark of respect.
He later told his opponent: “Mike Tyson, it’s such an honour. Let’s give it up for Mike, the greatest to ever do it.
“We wouldn’t be here without him today with him, this man is an icon. It’s just an honour to be able to fight him.
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“It was really tough fight. I expected it to be.
“He was exactly what I thought. One of the greatest to ever do it. An icon.
“I was trying to hurt him a little bit. I was scared he was going to hurt me. I did my best.”