On November 15, 2024, the world saw disappointment in what was supposed to be a boxing match when Jake Paul faced 58-year-old Mike Tyson. The youngest heavyweight champion made his professional comeback after 19 years and he looked like a ghost of his past self. He was sluggish, slow, and was not able to connect with his punches at all.

A few days later, the situation took another drastic turn when Mike Tyson confessed on the Covino & Rich Show for Fox Sports Radio that he “don’t remember the fight that much. I kind of blanked out a little.” This interview made it clear that ‘Iron Mike’ should never return to the ring, no matter what, at least for his own sake. However, a few days ago, Tyson’s old friend, NFL veteran, and former Pro-Bowler, Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones, added a new mystery to the fight, claiming it was “rigged”. Furthermore, the NFL star also claimed that the 58-year-old should return to the ring but on one condition.

Tyson-Paul faces another round of ‘rigged’ fight claims

In an exclusive interview with ‘The Mirror’, the Cincinnati Bengals cornerback raised questions about the legendary boxer’s comeback fight on Netflix. Pacman was ringside at the venue to witness the historic fight at AT&T Stadium in Texas. However, his experience was completely different from expectation. He narrated the first few rounds of the match where ‘Iron Mike’ had a blistering start. But as the minutes passed by, he started slowing down. Jones claimed, “I truly think the fight was rigged because if you look at the first round, Mike hit him with a couple and it looked like he told him to slow down,” explaining his experience watching it ringside.

He further claimed that his doubts regarding the fight being rigged got stronger when Jake Paul slowed down the intensity of the fight as well. “Paul knocked everybody else out. He wasn’t as aggressive, though, with Mike. He looked a little timid to me,” claimed Jones.

However, Pacman was unaware of the fact that Mike Tyson had gone through a major surgery just a few months before. He had no idea that the 58-year-old suffered from a life-threatening attack and needed a blood transfusion. Adding his derailing health to what we saw in the ring on November 15, there should be no way that the Brooklyn native should fight again. However, Adam Jones disagrees, insisting that the 58-year-old can fight, on one specific condition.

Mike Tyson: The beast within

While Jones accepted the fact that Mike Tyson was wobbly during the fight. However, he still wants to see him fight at least once more before hanging up the gloves for good. “I like Mike Tyson. I love Mike Tyson and would love to see a real fight with Mike Tyson,” claimed Pacman.

The host of ‘The Pacman Jones Show,’ then claimed that he still believes that Mike Tyson can unleash his hidden beast. He contended that he wanted to see the old, angry Mike Tyson fight again. He declared, “If he is medically cleared, let him go. He is a f*****g warrior, bro.” 

Even though Jones knows Tyson’s health is failing, he believes he can persevere if he receives medical clearance. However, the NFL cornerback also accepted that he has not talked to Tyson since the fight and would love to clear it with him first.

So, while Adam Jones believes that Mike Tyson still has one more match in him, the evidence suggests otherwise. The way ‘Iron Mike’ has let go of all the inhibitions since the November bout, it does not look like he wants to come back. He is spending quality time with his family and every fan hopes it stays that way. After all, no one wants to see a once-beloved star struggling to keep up with the likes of Jake Paul. Let us know your thoughts down below.