Round 12: Quick hands from Hutchinson, who has a second wind and is boxing smart. Counter jab scores and it’s all slipping away for Richards. Excellent tactical round from the Scot who rubberstamps what should be a wide victory with a fabulous closing round.
After moving to the United States in 2014, Zhang rarely visited China to see his parents, wife and son (born 2010 ) because he had to reapply for single-entry working visa every time. After a fight in China, he failed to get a visa and was stuck there for ten months between October 2018 and July 2019, missing a fight with Andriy Rudenko scheduled for November 2018 in Monaco. He was stuck for too long and asked his manager to terminate his housing lease and sell his car in New Jersey. He missed another fight scheduled in March 2020 in the United States after attending his father’s funeral. His flight scheduled for February 3, 2020, was two days after the United States implemented a COVID-19 travel ban on Chinese citizens. The 37-year-old Zhang had to wait another eight months for his next bout on November 7, 2020, with Devin Vargas on the undercard of the WBC lightweight title fight between Devin Haney and Yuriorkis Gamboa.
This provocative mimicry extends to his trash talk, echoing Tyson’s own words, promising a brutal showdown: “I’m the most brutal, vicious, and most ruthless champion there’s ever been… On the 20th, I’ll come out victorious, I promise you.” Fans are left questioning: Is Paul’s tattoo a real commitment or just temporary bravado for hype? His theatrical homage blurs the line between respect and audacity, igniting anticipation for the fight.
“I thought it was so hot,” he explained, adding: “I would be in these dens, these clubs and strip places sometimes and all the girls said ‘oh you are very exotic’…. They said I looked like some tribesman or s**t.”
In 1997, Tyson infamously bit a part of Evander Holyfield’s ear off during a fight. The move cost Tyson both the fight and his boxing license, though he was later reinstated. It was one of the most bizarre moments in boxing history, and one Tyson would be remembered for the rest of his career.
On 15 January 2024, it was announced that Zhang would be facing former WBO champion Joseph Parker, with the fight scheduled to occur on 8 March 2024 as the co-main event of the Knockout Chaos event, box at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena. Zhang was defeated by Parker in a majority points decision, in which two judges had it for Parker, 114–112 and 115–111, and one judge had it even at 113–113.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – FEBRUARY 26: Former Boxer Mike Tyson looks on prior to the Cruiserweight Title fight between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury at the Diriyah Arena on February 26, 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
On February 22, 2003, Mike Tyson, after the loss to Lennox Lewis the year prior, fought Clifford Etienne at the Pyramid in Memphis, Tennessee. Tyson won the bout via first-round knockout. It would be the last time he would win a boxing match in his illustrious professional career. But the fight gained fame for a different reason.
Paul has often expressed his respect for Tyson, citing him as one of his boxing idols. By getting a face tattoo similar to Tyson’s, Paul aims to honor the former heavyweight champion and further solidify his own identity as a serious contender in the boxing arena.
The most puzzling pre-fight antics have come courtesy of Jake Paul, which we kind of expect from the guy who illegally touts cryptocurrencies and once got married purely for social media engagement. This time, his stunts are focused squarely on his imminent opponent, with Paul recently revealing a facial tattoo identical to Tyson’s.
Rachael A. Carmen et al. in the Review of General Psychology posit that Tyson’s face tattoo may be an example of “body ornamentation as a form of intimidation”. Charlie Connell and Edmund Sullivan in Inked describe it as having become “instantly iconic”, while Vice’s Mitchell Sunderland ranks it as one of the two things Tyson is best known for, alongside biting off part of Evander Holyfield’s ear. Marie Hadley, in A History of Intellectual Property in 50 Objects, writes that the tattoo “has been described as one of the most distinctive tattoos in North America”. Its stature has increased over time, aided by Tyson and the 2009 comedy The Hangover, in which it is prominent on Tyson, who appears as a fictionalized version of himself. The tattoo has become strongly associated with Tyson and has made his persona more distinctive.
“I kind of, to an extent, put a burden on myself to get it known before I even allow myself to enjoy anything outside of this,” Bagent told NBC Sports Chicago a few weeks ago about learning the weekly gameplan and his exhaustive studying. “Unless I want to be miserable, I usually get that stuff done Wednesday through Friday, so Saturday I can kind of just get my heart and soul ready to go out there on Sunday.”