Ah, the nostalgia! As a kid, there was no better thrill than firing up Punch-Out! and entering the code to skip straight to Mike Tyson. I’d get all hyped, thinking this time might actually be my time. Spoiler: it wasn’t. Every time, I’d tap in that cheat code, step into the ring, and get flattened by Tyson faster than it took me to press Start. I never stood a chance. But hey, it was still one of my favorite parts of childhood — back when losing to a pixelated Tyson was a badge of honor.

In the ‘80s, watching a Tyson fight was a major event, right up there with holidays and birthdays. The man had a presence! The moment he walked into the ring, it was like your TV knew something big was about to happen. Tyson fights were as serious as Super Bowl Sunday but with more teeth-gritting, sweat-drenched intensity. His fights felt like seismic events, even if they were often over in less time than it took to grab the popcorn.

Fast forward to 2024, and guess what? Tyson’s coming back to the ring! Except this time, he’s stepping in with the new kid on the block, Jake Paul, and it’s all going down on Netflix next Friday. We’re in a different world now, where fights don’t just air on primetime — they stream like a binge-worthy series.

Now, I’ve got no beef with Jake Paul; he’s brought his own chaotic flavor to the sport. But let’s be real: I’ll be in Tyson’s corner, reliving those good old Punch-Out! days. For one night only, I’ll be cheering for the man who used to knock me out faster than I could blink, just to see him do it one more time…this time to someone who isn’t me.