On Paul vs. Tyson

Alan Cai

November 15, 2024

Today, 27-year-old prominent YouTube influencer-turned-professional boxer Jake Paul faced off against 58-year-old retired boxing legend Mike Tyson at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Although he demonstrated sharp reflexes and respectable skill for someone his age, he ultimately lost by unanimous decision from a panel of 3 Texan judges. Although the match itself was disappointing to watch for many given the relatively low quality of play and limited number of highlights, the event was a massive media success for the fighters, streaming host Netflix, and the sport of boxing.

Despite the interest the match garnered for the sport of boxing, the event itself reflects the saddening reality of America becoming more gerontocratic than ever before. Unlike economically similar nations such as Japan or Germany, the United States has yet to feel the economic repercussions of an aging population. In fact, America’s population is among the most generationally diverse among all developed nations. Yet, America’s culture and leadership are beginning to disproportionately rely on older generations for starpower and influence.

On the government side, President Biden will be succeeded by President-elect Trump, both being among the two oldest men ever elected to the highest office in the country. In fact, Trump’s election marks the sixth time a member of the baby boomer generation has been elected to the presidency (the previous ones being Trump’s first term, Bush’s two terms, and Clinton’s two terms). Obama’s birth in 1961 would technically classify him as a baby boomer as well according to some models, but even if he were a member of Generation X, said generation would still go down as one of the most underrepresented generations in American history. The median age of presidents on their inauguration day is 55 years old and the fact that both Biden’s and Trump’s inaugurations fall on their 78th year provides reason for alarm. On the congressional side, Generation X, the dominant working generation in America, has yet to gain a majority in Congress. Their lack of representation further underscores how America lacks rising stars to replace our aging leadership.

On the athletics side, older stars still remain the face of many sports, a worrying trend as sports leagues across the country try to coalesce around a younger core of stars. Boxing has yet to find its modern equivalent of Muhammad Ali or Mike Tyson and had to bring the latter out of retirement to maintain relevance. Basketball has yet to find an athlete to match the internationally transcendent fame Lebron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry enjoyed. These three stars more or less still dominate the NBA into their late thirties.

The fact that Jake Paul beat Mike Tyson in a televised spectacle before millions of people watching nationwide is not a victory for the younger generation of America. It’s a wake-up call for us to start getting ready to take the torch.