Chris Rock returned to his former stomping ground, Saturday Night Live, as a host in the long-running show’s 50th season. During his opening monologue on SNL, Chris Rock reflected on the recent boxing fight between social media influencer Jake Paul and boxing legend Mike Tyson.
So, here are more details on Rock’s recent comments on the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match.
The actor and comedian appeared as the host in Episode 9 of SNL Season 50, which aired on NBC on December 14, 2024. Meanwhile, Gracie Abrams graced the show as the musical guest.
Chris Rock addressed a wide array of topics during his opening monologue, with the boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul being one of them. Noting the differences between the fighters, Rock said, “What the hell? Who is this Jake Paul? He’s a 27-year-old punching a 60-year-old man in the face. Is this what the white man has reduced himself to? Stop it! Who’s he gonna fight next, Morgan Freeman?”
Check out Chris Rock’s SNL monologue below:
The Head of State star added, “I hate Jake Paul. I got landlord hate for him. I hate him!”
Notably, the fight between Paul and Tyson took place on November 15, 2024, at the AT&T Stadium, in Arlington, Texas. The match lasted all eight rounds before Paul was declared the winner by a unanimous decision. It also garnered considerable criticism due to the 33-year age difference between the two fighters.
Moreover, Jake Paul eventually decided to address the criticism in an interview with Boxing Scene. “There is no response to the reaction of the Tyson fight,” he claimed. “I quite frankly didn’t look at it. What do I care that people have to say about anything that I do? If anyone in my life has something to say, then they’ll text me.” Paul added that he didn’t care about the opinion of someone who didn’t have his phone number.
Notably, Chris Rock was part of the SNL cast between 1990 and 1993. Since his departure, he has made uncredited appearances on the show multiple times. Rock has also served as the host thrice (1996, 2014, and 2020) before the 50th season.
