Oliver McCall has been defended for fighting at 59, as Mike Tyson faced criticism for his November bout with Jake Paul over his age.

Tyson went to-toe-toe with the ‘Problem Child’ at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on November 15, where he was bested over the course of eight rounds via unanimous decision – looking slow and sluggish compared to his former self during the bout.

However, given his age of 58, and his absence from the ring in a professional capacity since 2005, fans were hardly surprised that Paul achieved victory over the former WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight champion.

YouTuber-turned-pugilist Paul looked far fresher during the fight – also unsurprising given that he is 31 years Tyson’s junior – notching his professional record up to 11-1 with the victory. However, McCall failed to receive the same levels of criticism as Tyson four days later, when he entered the ring at the Texas Troubadour Theatre under the Country Box banner a year older than his fellow pugilist, to take on Stacy Frazier, 54.

UFC icon Don Frye has confessed that the face-off between Jake Paul and former heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson made him feel nauseous. The boxing community was taken aback last year when Tyson announced his plans to return to professional boxing.

His last official match before his bout with Paul was in 2005, where he lost to ex-Irish boxer Kevin McBride. However, he did participate in an exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr in 2020.

Many expressed concern for Tyson’s health leading up to the fight, but the boxing legend shared several videos of his training for the match, sparking worldwide conversation and leading fans to believe he could turn back time.

Regrettably, his age was apparent on the night of the fight, and it was clear after the second round that the 58 year old had nothing more to give.

Mike Tyson won his first heavyweight world title in 1986 yet remains one of the biggest names in boxing after a busy year in and out of the ring.

‘Iron Mike’ became the youngest-ever heavyweight champion at 20, and his incredible knockout record made him a global superstar. Before his first defeat in 1990, only four of Tyson’s 37 fights had reached the final bell, giving him an unparalleled aura in the ring.

As one of the most iconic boxers of all time, Tyson has remained a popular figure, as shown by the number of fans who watched his comeback fight against Jake Paul in November. With 2024 now over, Mirror US Sport takes a look at Tyson’s most significant moments from last year that could still shape his future.

Tyson had been originally scheduled to face Paul in July, but a stomach ulcer flare-up delayed their fight. The 58-year-old recalled coughing up blood onboard a flight in May, with his health issues leading friends to become concerned for his life.

The controversial battle took place in November, and saw 58-year-old Tyson returning to the ring for the first time in nearly two decades.

Standing in his way was Youtuber-turned-boxer Paul, with the fight being pushed back from its original date of July after ‘Iron Mike’ suffered an ulcer flare-up.

Heading into the bout, clips of Tyson on social media appeared to show the former world heavyweight champion back to his ferocious best, but the fight itself was anything like that.

Tyson struggled to cope with his much younger opponent, looking slow and lethargic, as Paul claimed a unanimous decision victory after eight two-minute rounds.

Former heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson seems to be enjoying some rest and relaxation after his boxing match with Jake Paul.

The 58-year-old went head-to-head with the YouTuber-turned-boxer in November, marking Tyson’s first professional bout since his loss to Kevin McBride in 2005. However, he did participate in an exhibition match against legendary boxer Roy Jones Jr in 2020 before his face-off with ‘The Problem Child’.

The fight with the 27-year-old was a significant challenge for ‘Iron Mike’, largely due to the considerable age difference. This meant the seasoned boxer had to take his training for the match very seriously, and he surprised fans with his toned physique ahead of the bout.

Former heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson appears to be enjoying some time off following his boxing showdown with Jake Paul.

The 58-year-old went glove-to-glove with the YouTuber-turned-boxer back in November. It was Tyson’s first professional outing since suffering a defeat to Kevin McBride in 2005. He did, however, take part in an exhibition showdown against legendary boxer Roy Jones Jr in 2020 prior to his clash with ‘The Problem Child.’

That said, the dust-up with the 27-year-old was a big step up for ‘Iron Mike’ – largely down to the huge age gap. Therefore, the boxing veteran had to take preparations for the contest very seriously. Tyson impressed many with his ripped physique ahead of the heavyweight fight

While the American looked sharp in training, he was unable to roll back the years on fight night as his age was on full display in Texas. Despite failing to get the knockout, Paul would go on to cruise to a unanimous decision victory and extended his professional boxing record to 11-1

The Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson showdown on November 15, 2024, at AT&T Stadium was an event of epic proportions. With over 108 million viewers tuning in on television and 72,000 fans witnessing it live, the fight broke the gate record for boxing or MMA events outside Las Vegas. However, despite its massive success, the eight-round special rules bout ended in controversy, sparking skepticism about its authenticity.

Jake Paul secured a unanimous victory over the legendary Mike Tyson, but whispers of match-fixing quickly began circulating. In response, Paul’s team released a statement denying the allegations, yet the rumors persist.

Tony Yayo, the rapper formerly of G-Unit, shared his thoughts on the fight during an interview with DJ Vlad. When asked who he bet on, Yayo confidently replied, “Mike Tyson,” but admitted he was left baffled by the outcome.

Mike Tyson looks to be retired from the sport of professional boxing, even if he hasn’t directly announced that he won’t return to the ring.

At 58, ‘Iron’ Mike has very little reason to return to the combat sports arena in a professional capacity. He’s achieved almost everything on offer in the world of boxing, lifting numerous world titles at heavyweight, enjoying an abundance of high-profile super fights, and making history in the first-ever Netflix-streamed event back in November.

He initially hung up his gloves up following a 2005 loss to Kevin McBride, a bout in which he refused to continue with during the sixth round. Speaking after the loss, Tyson explained: “I don’t think I have it anymore because I’ve got the ability to stay in shape, but I don’t got the fighting guts I don’t think any more.”

He added: “I’m just sorry that I let everybody down, I just don’t have this in my heart any more,” before adding that he was fighting to “take care of bills”. When asked if fans would see him fighting again, he added: “Yeah, most likely I’m not going to fight again. I’m not going to disrespect this sport by losing to this calibre of fighter.”

It hasn’t been easy for boxing legend Mike Tyson to return to private life after his fight with Jake Paul.

‘Iron Mike’ returned to the boxing ring for the first time in two decades last month in Dallas. While Mike Tyson faced Roy Jones Jr. in 2020, that bout was an unsanctioned exhibition contest. His fight with Jake Paul last month was a professional bout, his first since a stoppage loss to Kevin McBride in June 2005.

Heading into the bout, many were concerned for the legendary heavyweight. However, all that worry was for nothing. In the end, the eight-round boxing match didn’t feature much in the way of action. While Mike Tyson won round one, he quickly faded, and was outboxed by Jake Paul en route to a unanimous decision loss.

Over a month removed from that night in Texas, the 58-year-old has largely remained quiet. However, in a recent interview with Fox Sports Radio, Mike Tyson discussed the bout. There, ‘Iron Mike’ admitted that he doesn’t really remember much of the fight. In the interview, he also took aim at critics who alleged the contest wasn’t real.