Mike Tyson’s comeback against YouTube star Jake Paul on November 15 has received ample criticism, with many raising genuine concerns over the former world heavyweight champion’s health.
The 58-year-old has not entered a professional boxing ring since his devastating sixth-round stoppage defeat to Kevin McBride back in 2005.
And yet, he will now make a controversial return, headlining a stacked card featuring a fiercely anticipated rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano for the women’s undisputed super lightweight crown.
But still, several members of the boxing fraternity have given Mike Tyson the upper hand over Jake Paul, who has aspirations to become a world champion.
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Shannon Briggs remains convinced that Mike Tyson is still a ferocious operator
Tyson and Paul’s monumental showdown at the AT&T Stadium, Texas, was set to take place back in June.
But then, Netflix’s first ever live boxing event was postponed after ‘Iron Mike’ suffered an ulcer flare-up, highlighting his pronounced health issues in recent years.
Regardless, the once formidable wrecking machine maintained his focus on Paul, hoping to prove he has enough left in the tank to dispatch the boxing novice.
And despite the potentially catastrophic risks attached to his comeback, former two-time world heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs looks forward to seeing Tyson back in the ring.
After all, ‘The Cannon’ has seen the way in which the streets of Brownsville, New York, have shaped his boxing idol.
“Mike Tyson grew up across the street from me,” Briggs told Bloody Knockout.
“There’s two different parts of Brownsville: up the hill and down the hill. Down the hill is ten times worse. When you go down the hill, you get to learn that there’s different types of human beings in this world; sick people that do mean things.
“You gotta learn how to live among the animals. Me and Mike both had to do that. That’s what makes heavyweight champions.”
How Mike Tyson vs Shannon Briggs would have played out
Briggs attests that the contrasting upbringings between Tyson and Paul could play a factor in their upcoming contest.
However, while he is from the same area as Tyson, the former opponent of Lennox Lewis and Vitali Klitschko remains unconvinced that, in a prime for prime battle, he would have withstood the pulverizing puncher’s infamous power.
“I wouldn’t have been able to stand up to that animal,” Briggs admitted. “He was a different type of human being. He had more pain than me.
“I don’t even think I could compare, you know. I might have made it to the second or third round – who knows? But he was a force of nature.”