With the Nov. 5 presidential election in the rearview mirror, Americans now turn to the next biggest matchup on their 2024 calendar.
On Friday, boxing legend Mike Tyson will square off against Youtuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in what is arguably one of the most anticipated fights of the year. According to USA Today, the match is slated to take place in Arlington, Texas, and will consist of “eight, two-minute rounds rather than the standard 10-12 rounds at three minutes each.”
The fight will exclusively stream on Netflix.
Fans haven’t had to wait long for things to get scrappy between the two contenders. Tyson slapped Paul at the end of Thursday’s weigh-in, giving viewers a preview of what to expect during Friday’s face off.
The outcome of the fight will undoubtedly provoke media-wide discussions about “youth vs. experience.”
Tyson enjoys an extensive career spanning several decades, complete with 50 wins and 44 knockouts. While having fewer matches under his belt, Paul (27) is more than three decades younger than his opponent (58).
Whether real or a staged publicity stunt, Friday’s fight offers Americans a nice, short break from the insanity of U.S. politics. After all, what better way to relax after a grueling 2024 campaign season than to flip on the TV and watch a former YouTuber fight a man old enough to order off iHop’s senior menu?
There’s no telling what Friday’s fight will bring.
Will someone take a dive? Will the referee rig the match? Will Tyson bite off one of Paul’s ears like he did in his 1997 match against Evander Holyfield?
The range of possibilities are seemingly endless.
To be certain, conservatives still have a lot of work ahead of them in the coming years. Ensuring the incoming Trump administration, GOP-controlled Congress, and other elected Republicans fulfill the wishes of their voters is paramount to putting the country back on the right track. It’s a task that will require an immense level of citizen activism, which the American right has largely failed to undertake in recent decades.
But for this Friday, tap out of politics for a bit. Order your favorite food, get some friends together, and enjoy each other’s company while watching two grown men beat the daylights out of one another. It doesn’t get much more American than that.
Shawn Fleetwood is a staff writer for The Federalist and a graduate of the University of Mary Washington. He previously served as a state content writer for Convention of States Action and his work has been featured in numerous outlets, including RealClearPolitics, RealClearHealth, and Conservative Review. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnFleetwood
