Mike Tyson faced off against Jake Paul on Friday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in a fight that saw the legendary boxer lose via unanimous decision. Throughout the 8-round bout, Tyson appeared uncharacteristically subdued, throwing fewer than 100 punches in total and showing a more reserved demeanor compared to his iconic, aggressive style.
However, one curious moment stood out to fans during the fight—Tyson was repeatedly seen biting his glove, a behavior that raised eyebrows both in the arena and online.
This unusual act became a topic of conversation during the post-fight interview conducted by Ariel Helwani, who wasted no time asking Tyson about it. When pressed for an explanation, Tyson simply admitted, “I have a habit of biting my glove.”
Helwani pushed further, curious about the reasoning behind the habit. The 58-year-old boxing legend offered a classic response that seemed to capture his unpredictable personality: “I have a biting fixation.”
For long-time boxing fans, the explanation evoked memories of Tyson’s most infamous moment in the ring. In 1997, Tyson faced Evander Holyfield in one of the most controversial matches in boxing history, a fight that would forever be etched in sports lore.
During their rematch, Tyson notoriously bit off a piece of Holyfield’s ear, an act that led to his disqualification and is still talked about nearly three decades later.
It seems that Tyson’s biting fixation hasn’t disappeared with time, but has instead found a new outlet—his own glove. The moment captured the attention of both viewers and commentators, highlighting Tyson’s idiosyncrasies even as he enters the twilight of his career.
Though the glove-biting wasn’t nearly as shocking as the Holyfield incident, it served as a reminder of the raw, unfiltered nature of “Iron Mike” that has fascinated fans for decades.
Tyson’s performance in the fight was seen by many as a reflection of his age and the natural slowing down that comes with it. He no longer possesses the explosive power and speed that once made him the “Baddest Man on the Planet.”
Instead, the match against Jake Paul showed a more measured Tyson, one who appeared content to let the fight play out without the same intensity that characterized his earlier years. Yet, despite his diminished aggression, the glove-biting moment offered a glimpse of the old Tyson—a man whose quirks and unpredictability have always been part of his mystique.
As for Jake Paul, the YouTube sensation turned boxer took advantage of Tyson’s reserved approach, controlling the pace and landing enough clean shots to secure the unanimous decision victory. For Paul, the win over a boxing icon like Tyson represents another feather in his cap as he continues to build his career in the sport.
For Tyson, the fight was another chapter in an already storied career—one filled with triumphs, controversies, and the kind of memorable moments that keep fans talking long after the final bell.
Though the outcome wasn’t what Tyson fans might have hoped for, his post-fight explanation for biting his glove offered a classic, almost nostalgic insight into the mind of one of boxing’s most complex figures.
It’s a reminder that even in his later years, Tyson remains unapologetically himself—a fighter whose behavior both in and out of the ring continues to intrigue and surprise.
