Boxing legend Mike Tyson was left completely baffled at the 2026 ESPY Awards after seemingly realizing in real-time that MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani is a man.
The hilarious and bizarre mix-up occurred on Wednesday night after the former heavyweight champion presented the award for Best Single-Game Performance.
Ohtani took home the prestigious honor following his iconic performance Game 4 of the National League Championship Series in 2025 – but it quickly became apparent that Tyson was entirely unfamiliar with the Los Angeles Dodgers star.
With Ohtani unable to attend the glitzy New York event on Wednesday, Jake Paul – who co-presented the award with Tyson – said: ‘Shohei could not be here tonight. He sends his gratitude and appreciation to ESPN and everyone who voted for him’.
However, while the crowd swiftly applauded, Tyson was caught in an awkward hot mic moment when he turned to Paul and said: ‘Shohei’s a guy?!’
The incident quickly went viral on social media, with fans poking fun at Tyson over his lack of knowledge of the MLB superstar.
Boxing legend, pictured alongside Jake Paul and DJ Khaled at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday night, was caught in an awkward hot mic moment during the glitzy ceremony in New York
Tyson seemingly did not realize that Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani was a man
‘This might win best moment of the night,’ one amused viewer wrote on X.
‘How does Mike Tyson not know who Shohei Ohtani is?,’ another fan asked.
Ohtani, meanwhile, won the award for his impressive showing against the Brewers last year, where he hit three home runs and tossed six scoreless innings.
The 32-year-old missed out on this week’s All-Star Game due to an ongoing knee injury and failed to make his scheduled start before the Midsummer Classic.
Elsewhere on the night, SNL comedian Marcello Hernandez poked fun at Tiger Woods and Bill Belichick in a savage monologue at the ESPY Awards.
Hernandez took to the stage in New York with hundreds of sports stars and celebrities in the crowd, and he didn’t hold back in a brutal speech reminiscent of Shane Gillis’ 2025 version.
Fans ripped into the boxing legend for the embarrassing moment during the award ceremony
Ohtani took home the Best Single-Game Performance award following his iconic performance Game 4 of the National League Championship Series in 2025
His most ruthless dig came at the expense of Woods, who was arrested for driving under the influence back in March after rolling his car near his Jupiter Island home.
After congratulating NFL quarterback Caleb Williams for making it on the cover of popular football video game Madden, Hernandez added: ‘And Tiger Woods will be on the cover of Grand Theft Auto.’
‘I love you Tiger, I’m a big fan,’ he added live on ABC after getting laughs from the crowd. ‘It was just written so well.’
Woods pleaded not guilty after his crash earlier this year and he blew clear on a breathalyzer test, but the golf legend refused to give a urine sample and police found two hydrocodone pills in his pocket – a powerful painkiller.
