Mike Tyson unexpectedly became one of the biggest talking points of the 2026 ESPY Awards after an off-the-cuff comment about Major League Baseball star Shohei Ohtani was picked up on a live microphone.
The boxing icon’s apparent confusion over Ohtani’s identity quickly spread across social media, overshadowing part of the annual awards ceremony.
Ohtani Honored Despite Missing the Ceremony
Shohei Ohtani received the ESPY Award for Best Single-Game Performance in recognition of his remarkable display during Game 4 of the 2025 National League Championship Series.
His dominant outing featured three home runs and six scoreless innings, earning widespread acclaim.
Although Ohtani was unable to attend the ceremony in New York because of a knee injury that also kept him out of the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, his appreciation was shared by co-presenter Jake Paul.
Standing beside Tyson, Paul informed the audience that Ohtani had sent his thanks to ESPN and everyone who voted for him before the crowd responded with applause.
Tyson’s Reaction Captured on a Live Microphone
Moments after Paul’s announcement, Tyson appeared surprised and quietly turned to ask, “Shohei’s a guy?”
Unfortunately for the former heavyweight champion, the microphone captured the remark, allowing viewers to hear the exchange.
The unexpected comment immediately drew laughter online, with clips circulating across social media platforms within minutes of the broadcast.
Fans React as the Clip Goes Viral
The viral moment prompted thousands of reactions from sports fans, many of whom joked about Tyson’s unfamiliarity with one of baseball’s biggest global stars.
Some viewers described the exchange as the funniest moment of the evening, while others expressed surprise that Tyson did not recognize the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar.
The brief interaction quickly became one of the most shared highlights from the awards show.
Ohtani Continues Recovery From Knee Injury
While celebrating another individual honor, Ohtani remains focused on returning to action after suffering a knee injury that ruled him out of this week’s All-Star festivities.
The injury also forced him to miss a scheduled pitching appearance ahead of baseball’s annual Midsummer Classic.
Despite his absence from the ceremony, his award-winning postseason performance remained one of the night’s most celebrated achievements.
Comedy Monologue Adds More Headlines to the ESPYs
The ceremony also featured comedian Marcello Hernandez, whose opening monologue targeted several high-profile sports figures.
Among his sharpest jokes was one aimed at golf legend Tiger Woods.
After congratulating NFL quarterback Caleb Williams on appearing on the cover of the Madden video game, Hernandez quipped that Woods would instead appear on the cover of Grand Theft Auto.
The joke referenced Woods’ arrest following a vehicle crash earlier this year before Hernandez reassured the audience that he remained a fan of the golfer.
Hernandez also directed jokes toward former NFL coach Bill Belichick, continuing the tradition of celebrity roasting that has become a recurring feature of the ESPY Awards.
A Brief Comment That Stole the Spotlight
Although the ESPYs celebrated outstanding athletic achievements across multiple sports, Tyson’s accidental hot mic moment became one of the ceremony’s defining viral clips.
What began as a routine award presentation quickly evolved into a widely discussed social media moment, ensuring that Tyson’s surprised reaction received almost as much attention as Ohtani’s award-winning accomplishment.
Summary
Shohei Ohtani won the 2026 ESPY Award for Best Single-Game Performance despite missing the ceremony because of a knee injury.
However, much of the online conversation centered on presenter Mike Tyson, whose hot mic comment asking whether Ohtani was a man quickly went viral.
The awards show also generated headlines through comedian Marcello Hernandez’s jokes targeting Tiger Woods and other sports personalities.
