‘I sympathise with Mike Tyson – but he’ll be a human punching bag for Floyd Mayweather’

Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather are set to compete in an exhibition bout next year (Picture: Getty)

Ricky Hatton has criticised those around Mike Tyson for letting him step back into the ring and fears Floyd Mayweather could turn him into a ‘human punching bag’.

Tyson, who will turn 60 next year, ended his 19-year retirement when he faced off against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in November last year.

But the American, an undisputed heavyweight champion in his heyday, looked a shadow of his former self, running out of steam a matter of minutes into the fight en route to a farcical defeat to Paul.

Even prior to that defeat, Tyson’s health had come under the spotlight when he revealed he ‘almost died’ months before the fight after an ulcer flare-up onboard a plane.

Despite all of that, the 59-year-old now looks set to step back into the ring once again next year in an exhibition bout with former five-division world champion Mayweather.

Mayweather, 48, has fought in a number of exhibition bouts since retiring in 2017 with a perfect 50-0 record, most recently against John Gotti III last August.

While smaller and far lighter than Tyson, the 11-year age gap means Mayweather will most certainly be the sharper and fresher man.

Jake Paul comfortably beat Tyson in a farcical bout last November (Picture: Getty)

And despite only being an exhibition – unlike the defeat to Paul, which went on Tyson’s professional record – former world champion Hatton fears the 59-year-old could still get seriously hurt by his far younger opponent.

‘In normal circumstances, given the size difference, you would probably be more worried about Floyd’s well-being, but I think the opposite,’ Hatton told Metro ahead of his appearance at the Lord Mayor of London’s Fire Fight Night, where he will be awarded the Freedom of the City of London.

‘I don’t think Mike will get near him and he’ll be a human punching bag to be honest.

Tyson will step back into the ring to face former five-weight world champion Mayweather (Picture: Getty)

‘Mike’s approaching sixty, and you saw from his last fight that he’s well and truly past it. I think Mike could really end up getting hurt. I’m not sure I even believe it yet, to be honest, but it would be bad for boxing if it is allowed.

‘There’s no winner. If Mike somehow hits Floyd and flattens him then people will say ‘Look at the size difference, it shouldn’t have been allowed’.

‘But if Floyd goes in there and boxes his head off and uses him as a punching bag then people will say ‘We knew that was going to happen.’

‘So there’s no positives to come out of it except a lot of dough which clearly is the only thing people are thinking about.’

‘I know how difficult it is to give up the sport’

Ricky Hatton is also plotting a return to the ring (Picture: Getty)

Tyson is by no means the first boxer to struggle to turn their back on the ring, with Hatton, himself, making a comeback of his own later in the year.

‘The Hitman’ did fight Marco Antonio Barrera in an exhibition three years ago, but will now fight for the first time professionally since 2012 when he takes on Eisa Al Dah in Dubai in December this year.

Hatton, though, is keen to differentiate between Tyson’s latest fight and his own comeback against Al Dah, who is the same age as Hatton and has a modest 8-3 record, and said more must be done to prevent ageing boxers from doing harm to themselves.

‘I sympathise with Mike because it’s so difficult to give up the sport,’ he added.

Hatton will step back into the ring in December for the first time in 13 years (Picture: PA)

‘Other than selling a few dodgy carpets with my Dad when I first turned professional, it’s all I’ve ever known. I’ve been a fighter all my life and you can’t switch that off. I’m sure he’s the same.

‘I’ve learnt how to deal with retirement now – I’m a trainer and I do events to keep myself busy – but you still do miss the sport and that’s why I’m still having the odd fight here or though.

‘If you look at my comeback, we’re both similar ages, and it’s a very doable fight. He’s an 8-3 record, so it’s not like Paulie Malignaggi fighting bare knuckle at his age or Mike coming back against Floyd. Mine is a very safe fight.’

Hatton continued: ‘But if Mike is being offered tens of millions of dollars to step back into the ring then how are you going to say no?

‘That’s where I think it should be taken out of Mike’s hands. There should be more people able to step in and say ‘No, we can’t allow this to happen’ because otherwise the fighters will just keep going.

‘It’s what they’re born to do and even more so if you stick a big lump of cash in front of them. But I’m not sure it can go on like this.’

Ricky Hatton was speaking ahead of his appearance at the Lord Mayor of London’s Fire Fight Night on 8 October, where he will be awarded the Freedom of the City of London. Click here for tickets and more information.

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