Mike Tyson didn’t flinch from offering praise for a night of boxing that many fans labeled a disappointment.

Dressed in a striking blue floral suit and seated alongside boxing royalty like Shakur Stevenson and Terence Crawford, the former heavyweight champion was on hand for the ‘Fatal Fury: City of Wolves’ event in Times Square, a high-profile addition to the Riyadh Season calendar.

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Despite sharp criticism directed at the card-especially Ryan Garcia‘s shocking defeat to Rolando Romero and the uninspiring showdown between Devin Haney and Jose Ramirez-Tyson expressed nothing but admiration in his recap of the night.

In an Instagram post that included a carousel of images from the evening, Tyson wrote, “Great fights and an epic fight night in.” The post showed him with Turki Alalshikh, sharing laughs ringside with top-tier fighters and even joining influencer KSI in the audience.

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One moment that lit up social media was Tyson‘s reaction to Garcia‘s second-round knockdown at the hands of Romero. As reported by Ring Magazine, Tyson jokingly shouted, “He’s on the phone; talk to him, Ryan!” The quip sent Stevenson into laughter and quickly went viral-highlighting Tyson’s animated presence despite the controversy brewing around the event.

Tyson’s perspective stands out amid criticism

While the boxing world largely panned the Times Square spectacle, Tyson‘s reaction suggests he saw things differently. For someone who’s endured the peaks and valleys of the sport firsthand, he may have a deeper appreciation for what goes into stepping into the ring-even on an off night.

Ticket sales were notably restricted, with only 300 elite guests attending in person, adding to the perception that the card failed to connect with the wider boxing audience. Online criticism was relentless, particularly about the quality of the headlining bouts and whether the promotional hype matched the in-ring product.

Veteran boxing insider Rick Glaser weighed in to deflect blame from the organizers. On social media, he wrote: “Don’t blame the guy that put up big money for what were supposed to be great fights; blame the fighters!!!” Glaser‘s comments referenced Turki Alalshikh‘s major financial commitment to the event, part of his broader investment in global boxing through Riyadh Season.

Tyson‘s praise, then, might be seen as standing in defense of that effort-recognizing the logistical and financial ambitions behind the event, even if the performances didn’t live up to the billing.

His Instagram post, shared with millions of followers, made no mention of the criticism and instead highlighted camaraderie, star power, and a celebration of the sport itself.

As debate continues over who is responsible for the underwhelming fights-promoters or boxers-Iron Mike has made his stance clear: focus on the positives, acknowledge the challenges, and celebrate the moments that remind us why boxing still draws a global crowd.