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Interim WBC light heavyweight champion David Benavidez has sent a strong message to Mike Tyson days after the heavyweight boxing legend suffered a sad loss to YouTube boxer Jake Paul. The pair went toe-to-toe at Jerry World in Texas on Friday, producing one of the most boring fights in the recent history of the sport. However! 

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The fight, streamed on Netflix, shattered records to become the most-watched event in the sport’s history. It also broke Canelo Alvarez’s $9 million gate record, amassing an impressive $18 million in ticket sales. However, the achievement was somewhat overshadowed by significant streaming issues during the broadcast, leaving many viewers frustrated.

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The streaming giant even incurred a class-action lawsuit for breach of contract because of the streaming issues. Regardless, Benavidez didn’t have any problems with the fight itself. “To be honest with you, I think it was a good fight, good turnout, but I don’t want to see Mike Tyson fight no more,” ‘The Mexican Monster’ said when asked about his thoughts on it. 

It’s worth noting that Paul and Tyson faced backlash for the sheer age gap between the boxers, with Tyson returning to the ring at the age of 58. Nonetheless, Benavidez hoped Tyson was done with his escapades in the squared circle. “He hopefully hangs it up. I think it was a good show, but he needs to retire,” Benavidez added. 

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Later in the interview, when the reporter probed the 27-year-old champion about his thoughts on Paul looking for opponents who are out of their prime, Benavidez revealed his message for Tyson, “I mean, at the end of the day, you’re your own man. If you agree to the fight, you sign the contract and that’s on you.”

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Despite the abysmal and slow fight, many have expressed relief that Tyson made it out of the fight unscathed. Meanwhile, David Benavidez has revealed whether he would fight Paul.

David Benavidez on Seeking Revenge if Jake Paul Had Hurt Mike Tyson

During the same interview, the reporter questioned whether Benavidez wanted to avenge Tyson’s loss by fighting Paul. It’s worth mentioning that Jake Paul has received numerous challenges from elite-level boxers since his win over Tyson, which includes Artur Beterbiev, Daniel Dubois, and even retired Carl Froch.

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Regardless, Benavidez suggested, “If [Jake] would have tried to hurt Mike Tyson, maybe, but… [Tyson] went in there, he made a good paycheck and [Tyson] deserves that.” Benavidez explained that he was just happy that Tyson didn’t get seriously hurt during the fight, noting, “A 60-year-old Mike Tyson is a different Mike Tyson.”

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That being said, David Benavidez doesn’t seem to have an issue with the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight. But more importantly, it should be a relief for Benavidez’s fans that he isn’t chasing after a paycheck by wanting to fight Jake Paul. What’s your take on Benavidez’s comments? 

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Written by

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Sudeep Sinha

4,781 Articles

Sudeep Sinha is a Golf Writer at EssentiallySports, covering the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and the storylines around the sport's biggest events and names. He previously spent over two years writing in the Boxing department, where his fight-night coverage was featured on Sports Illustrated, Daily Mail, and Yahoo Sports, including his reporting on Ryan Garcia's career arc. On the golf beat, Sudeep covers tour news, player form, and the season-long storylines that shape the men's and women's game, from majors to the ongoing shifts in how professional golf is structured. That same appetite for detail that made his boxing coverage stand out now shows up in how he breaks down a swing change or a schedule shakeup for hardcore and casual fans alike. Outside work, he splits his time between reading, cycling, and following combat sports.

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Gokul Pillai

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