[손태규의 직설] The Tyson match that sold ‘perfume’ was an ‘entertainment show’… What will be the end of professional boxing where the charm of ‘beast instinct’ has disappeared?

Mike Tyson and Jake Paul./Getty Images Korea

Mike Tyson enters for his match with Jake Paul./Getty Images Korea

‘Is this really the end of the professional boxing era?’ The match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul symbolized boxing going into the sunset. It was a ‘show’ that sold ‘nostalgia’. There was no real competition. It showed that professional boxing had changed from a sport of bare-knuckle fighting spirit to an entertainment event for survival.

The beginning of professional boxing was a bare-knuckle fight for money. A primal charm that evokes bestial instincts. It was a desperate fight for the survival of immigrants at the bottom. It was not entertainment to laugh and enjoy for free. Irish immigrants fought with their bare hands in New York and Boston in the 1860s and 1870s. He captivated Americans with his fierceness and desperation that risked his life. Because of its charm, boxing has been an important part of American culture for over 100 years. It has become a world sport.

In 1981, Muhammad Ali, who “flew like a butterfly and stings like a bee,” left boxing. An interesting and powerful person who attracted the public has disappeared. Popularity has slowed. However, Tyson, who appeared in 1985, was a ‘KO artist’. He fought 28 times and won 26 times by KO, becoming the top heavyweight in the world. With the birth of a ‘new king’, boxing was revived.

Mike Tyson and Jake Paul./Getty Images Korea

“I didn’t intentionally knock down Tyson just to get attention.”

But even though he had ‘nuclear fists’ and was ‘the scariest man on Earth’, what would you have expected from the 58-year-old Tyson? No one would have expected an exciting fist fight in a fight with the 27-year-old. Drawing water from one well also has limitations. Tyson is no exception. The match was simply motivated by nostalgia for the era symbolized by Tyson, the youngest world heavyweight champion.

Sure enough, after the match, Paul said, “I didn’t knock out Tyson on purpose. I wanted to give the audience a good show. “I didn’t want to hurt anyone who didn’t need to be hurt,” he said. He admitted that he controlled the flow of the game as much as possible to avoid hitting Tyson too hard. He himself admitted that it was a kind of ‘show’.

Still, the audience must have had real hopes and expectations. Because of strong nostalgia for Tyson. But the disappointment was great.

“It was just a show. “It wasn’t a ‘game.’” “What more can you expect in a world where even ‘reality television shows’ are fake? “That is the world of entertainment.” “It wasn’t a fight, it was a choreographed dance. “Once again, professional boxing has proven to be a pretense.” “We were all taken in by the shady world of professional boxing.”

Among professional boxing fans, there was no one who did not know that Tyson left because he was in need of money. After earning hundreds of millions of dollars and losing it all, he knows that he is “unable to eat or pay rent.”

Maybe that’s why there were some generous people. To those who were disappointed, he said, “Neither of us came here for a boxing match. I came out to show only for the money. “Why are you complaining so much?” he scolded. “I have no intention of criticizing anyone. It was just a money-making event, not a fight. He also said, “It was a trip down memory lane.”

It should not become a ‘sports bar district’

It is unreasonable to expect the meaning or aesthetics of sports where one competes with all one’s might while watching an entertainment show. The two enjoy making money and making audiences laugh. Isn’t that enough? They already know that many professional sports, including boxing, are not serious competitions. We know that sports have become a world where people sell their souls to make huge amounts of money.

Sugar Ray Robinson, who held the world middleweight crown five times, returned in 1965 at the age of 44. The reporter mercilessly described the situation as “the bar street of sports.” It appears that he has appeared on the streets at night again to make money. Sugar Ray Leonard, who swept the world’s five weight classes, also returned after turning 40 in 1997. Looking at this ‘show’ between Tyson and Paul, there are some cool-headed boxing critics who say that that was not wrong. Professional boxing is already like the sun setting on Seosan. This means that there is no longer a need to think of professional boxing as a serious sport, where all you have to do is make money no matter what you do.

There are also claims that this ‘event’ could actually inject great vitality into professional boxing. That it is never the end. This means that it can continue its legacy as an entertainment show. Paul, a Disney graduate who became a YouTube star, is receiving a lot of attention. The influence of social media cannot be ignored. Professional boxing can survive as ‘bloody entertainment’ and ‘show business.’

Perfume is a good material for artists who are full of emotion. But it’s sad that sports depend on it. This is especially true when sports degenerate into ‘entertainment shows.’ Will the “Sports Bar Street,” which appeared 60 years ago, appear in other sports besides professional boxing? This is a worry that arises when I see even active sports players falling into entertainment programs in Korea.

* To what extent do you think the infusion of celebrity influencers like Jake Paul into professional boxing can ‍be seen as a strategic marketing move that ultimately benefits the ‍sport’s long-term viability?

Here are some‌ open-ended questions based‍ on the article, divided into ⁤thematic sections:

**Section 1: The Evolution of Professional Boxing**

* The article contrasts the “bare-knuckle” origins of boxing with⁢ its‌ modern form,⁣ which is portrayed ⁤as more entertainment-focused. Do you think this shift is inevitable in any competitive sport as it gains⁣ mainstream popularity? Why or why not?

* The article mentions Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson as figures who revitalized boxing. What qualities do you think made them so‍ captivating to audiences, and can ⁢those qualities be replicated in today’s⁢ boxers?

* ‍ How much does nostalgia play a role in the appeal ⁤of professional boxing today? Is there a danger ⁢in relying too heavily ⁢on past glories?

**Section 2: The Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson Exhibition**

* The article questions the authenticity of the​ exhibition match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson, framing it as more of a “show” than a genuine competition. Where do ⁣you draw ⁣the line ​between entertainment and‌ genuine⁤ sport?

*

Paul acknowledged he held back‍ on Tyson, prioritizing a “good show” over a knockout. Does this undermine the integrity⁢ of the sport, or is it simply a smart tactical decision in a staged event?

* Do you think celebrity influencers like Jake Paul are good or bad for professional boxing?

**Section 3: The ​Future of Boxing**

* The article wonders if professional boxing is becoming more like a “sports bar district,” where authenticity and competition are secondary to ⁢entertainment and revenue. What are the long-term implications if this trend continues?

* While the​ article expresses concern,‌ it also acknowledges that professional boxing could⁣ survive as a form of entertainment. What could professional boxing do to balance its entertainment appeal with‍ its sporting integrity?

* The author expresses concern over the “sport ‍bar district” phenomenon spreading to other sports. Which other sports could be vulnerable to a similar shift in focus? What makes ⁤them susceptible?

These questions ​are designed to encourage discussion, consider multiple perspectives, and explore the complex issues surrounding the future‌ of professional boxing.