Mike Tyson created an unexpected moment at this week’s ESPYs. While presenting an award, the boxing legend seemed unsure who Shohei Ohtani was. His question about the baseball star quickly spread online, leaving fans talking about the moment.
Mike Tyson appeared unaware that Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is male
The exchange took place Wednesday night, as Mike Tyson helped present the ESPY for the best single-game performance alongside Jake Paul and DJ Khaled. The award was won by Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star widely known as the biggest name in MLB.
Ohtani did not attend the ceremony, so a brief acceptance message was read on his behalf. Moments later, Tyson turned to Paul and asked, “Shohei’s a guy?” His words were picked up by a hot mic. Paul nodded and appeared to answer yes as the audience applauded.
The clip quickly went viral on social media, with many viewers expressing surprise that Tyson did not recognize one of the world’s most recognizable athletes. Ohtani has been an international star for years. He is known for a rare combination of elite pitching and hitting. This has drawn comparisons to some of baseball’s greatest players.
Some of the online reaction also centered on the fact that Ohtani’s image was displayed prominently on the large screen behind the stage during the presentation.
The award recognized Ohtani’s standout performance in Game 4 of the 2025 National League Championship Series. In that game, he hit three home runs and, as a pitcher, struck out 10 batters. The remarkable two-way performance drew global attention and became one of the postseason’s most memorable individual displays.
TELL US – WERE YOU SURPRISED MIKE TYSON DID NOT RECOGNIZE SHOHEI OHTANI? WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE HOT-MIC MOMENT AT THE ESPYS?
Originally reported by Ashna Gaur on Mandatory.
