Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson: Why is boxing so popular among celebrities?

 

The surprising fight is only the most recent in a trend that pits boxers who are beyond their best against each other or online superstars.

The 27-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul will square off against Mike Tyson, the 58-year-old former heavyweight champion who just recovered from a stomach ulcer, on Friday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The fight, sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, has been criticized by the boxing community for being a product of celebrity culture that some believe devalues the art of this sport, despite the fact that there is an eye-watering $40 million up for grabs in the fight's "purse" and no title belts on the line.

Friday's boxing match between a recovering former professional and a 31-year-old boxer is the latest in a series of unorthodox matchups involving celebrities and former professionals, potentially drawing millions of viewers worldwide.

The celebrity boxing craze began in 2002 with a feisty match between Ricky Gervais and Bob Mortimer, and in 2015, Mitt Romney and Evander Holyfield. 

The concept of celebrity boxing matches has evolved from charity events and short-lived TV shows, with the intensity and quality ranging from feisty to symbolic.

In 2017, UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor fought boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr in a crossover fight called "The Money Fight," with Mayweather guaranteed $100m and McGregor $30m. The final payouts were much higher than anticipated. In the same year, an amateur boxing event in London pitted YouTube influencers against each other, starting a trend with Jake Paul, who made a name by posting prank videos online. Paul faced off against KSI the following year and then against Mayweather in a 2021 exhibition match.