Mad Dog Russo ‘Amazed’ People Watched Tyson-Paul Fight: ‘If They Had It in My Backyard, I Would Have Pulled the Blinds!’
Chris “Mad Dog” Russo couldn’t believe that so many people tuned in to Friday night’s boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul.
After months of waiting — and even a health scare by 58-year-old Tyson — the two men finally fought Nov. 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. As many anticipated from a fight between two boxers separated in age by over three decades, it was largely a farce. Despite the match consisting of only eight two-minute rounds, Tyson’s age showed almost immediately. Standing next to the much younger and much faster Paul, Tyson looked even slower.
Early on, it looked as though Tyson would be knocked out in no time at all. To his credit, he stayed upright for all eight rounds and went the distance to lose by unanimous decision.
According to Netflix, more than 100 million people watched the fight. It also had a peak of 65 million concurrent streamers.
On Monday’s episode of Mad Dog Unleashed, Russo explained why he didn’t watch it and even singled out program director Steve Torre for his decision to do the opposite.
“I’m amazed that our sports values have dipped to this low level,” Russo said. “I was home Friday night. I forgot all about it. I wouldn’t have put that damn thing on! As I always like to say — Mike Francesa used to tell me this — if they had it in my backyard, I would have pulled the blinds! I mean, who in America — and I’ll tell you, Steve Torre watched it, which is a sad case of affairs for Steve. Instead of preparing as he should have for that — but you know Steve. It’s culture. It’s 65 million people watching it, I guess, and everybody talks about it; so Steve has to be part of it because he refuses to be sort of an old fart out in the wind, not being involved with [what] everybody else is involved [with]. And that’s Steve’s M.O. 100%. But he’s a sports fan, so shame on him. How anybody on Friday night could even think that this would be worth watching, I am absolutely amazed!”
Watch above via Mad Dog Unleashed
