Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson has explained what he believes is holding back modern fighters from making the same splash as athletes of former years

Former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson has criticised the current generation of boxers for their lacklustre style, comparing it to “watching grass grow.”

In a YouTube conversation with tennis legend Nick Kyrgios on his GOOD TROUBLE programme, Tyson expressed his disappointment ahead of a highly anticipated fight with Jake Paul in July.

“[There’s] more to [it than] being the best,” Tyson stated. “You have to be entertaining. You have to be exciting. They could beat anybody in the world, but they can’t draw 5,000 tickets. You know, that’s because they’re not exciting. The way they make their money, because their opponents are very, like fame. Got a big following.

“But there’s people, I’m sure they’re a talented guy that could beat anybody, but they look like s***. Like watching grass grow, you know.”

Tyson, who hails from Brooklyn, rose to international fame in the boxing world, securing the heavyweight title belt before he was even old enough to rent a car, as Kyrgios pointed out. Known for his powerful punches and swift footwork, Tyson won his first 19 professional fights by knockout and is still considered by many to be the greatest boxer of all time.

However, it was Tyson’s audacity and controversy both inside and outside the ring that propelled him into the public eye. The heavyweight fighter proudly modelled his approach after the legendary Sonny Liston, widely regarded as the most fearsome boxer in the history of the sport, and famously bit an opponent’s ear among other memorable antics.

The legendary boxer and iconic sports figure, with a staggering $875 million in career earnings when adjusted for inflation, has been ranked as the 16th highest-paid athlete of all time by Sportico. Mike Tyson argues that today’s boxers don’t match the inflation-adjusted earnings of his era due to their cautious fighting styles and lack of charisma.

Tyson was the second highest-paid boxer ever

Tyson mused on the impact of technology on boxing viewership: “This is a funny question because of technology,” he said. “More people are able to see fighters now than they did when I was fighting. We made a lot of money when we were fighting for our time. These guys were making $15 million in the 80s. That’s like, well I don’t know, that’s like $45 million now.”
He also commented on the current state of boxing earnings: “These guys are fighting now, they’re not making money. Time changes and they just not making…. Look, Terence Crawford in the box, he’s fighting Errol Smith, he’s the best fighter in the world but he can’t draw 5,000 people.”

In a candid exchange, Tyson sat opposite tennis maverick Nick Kyrgios, who has taken Tyson’s advice onto the tennis courts, carving out a name for himself as a rebel in a sport known for its strict decorum. Despite never rising above 13th in the world singles rankings, Kyrgios has cultivated a massive following, boasting four million Instagram followers.

GOOD TROUBLE, a series of programmes hosted by the Hana Kuma media house and created by tennis sensation Naomi Osaka, has been nominated for multiple Emmys. The brand provides an exclusive insight into the world of tennis and sports in general.