In a highly anticipated and controversial matchup, YouTuber Jake Paul defeated boxing legend Mike Tyson by unanimous decision, marking the former world heavyweight champion’s first fight in 19 years.
The eight-round contest, held at AT&T Stadium in Texas and streamed on Netflix, ended with the judges scoring the bout 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73 in favor of the 27-year-old Paul.
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.The fight, which drew a crowd of 70,000 spectators, began with Paul making the most of his youth, using his speed and agility to close the distance on the 58-year-old Tyson.
Paul unleashed a series of jabs early on, managing to create space and dictate the pace of the fight. Tyson, on the other hand, appeared sluggish at times, struggling to keep up with Paul’s movement and combinations.
In his prime, Tyson’s strength was in the weight of his punches, so while he managed to land a few heavy body shots during the early rounds, his attempts to mount an offence were often neutralized by Paul’s evasive tactics.
The crowd grew restless as the action slowed as expected in a non-professional fight, particularly when the two fighters clinched repeatedly, prompting boos from the audience.
Round three saw Tyson attempt to rally, coming out aggressively with heavy punches. However, Paul responded with precision, landing a series of left hooks that visibly shook Tyson. By the midway point of the fight, it was clear that Tyson was beginning to tire, and Paul’s confidence grew with each round.
By the sixth round, Tyson’s movement had slowed considerably. Though he still managed to land a few strikes, Paul’s ability to pick his spots and land clean punches put him firmly in control. The seventh round saw an exchange of heavy blows, but Tyson’s punches lacked the power they once carried, and Paul appeared to have the upper hand as they neared the final round.
As the bell rang for the eighth and final round, Tyson seemed spent, taking longer than usual to get off his corner stool. With little left in the tank, Tyson and Paul embraced as the fight came to a close, and the decision was all but assured.
In his post-fight interview, Jake Paul expressed mixed feelings about his victory. He admitted that while he was focused on delivering an exciting fight, he didn’t want to hurt Tyson, acknowledging the age gap between the two fighters. “I didn’t feel Mike’s power,” Paul said. “I tried to give the best fight I could, but when someone is just surviving in the ring, it’s hard to make it exciting.”
Paul added that, despite the victory, he had the utmost respect for Tyson. “I could just tell his age was showing a little bit. I didn’t want to be overly aggressive, especially when he wasn’t engaging back. There was a point when I was thinking, ‘He’s just trying to survive.’”
Despite the somewhat lackluster performance, Paul dismissed any concerns over criticism, saying, “People are always going to have something to say. It is what it is.”
After the bout, Mike Tyson hinted that this might not be the end of his boxing career. When asked if he would return to the ring, Tyson responded, “I don’t know. It depends on the situation. I don’t think so,” leaving the door slightly ajar for future bouts.
Tyson also expressed contentment with his own performance, despite the loss. “I knew Jake was a good fighter,” Tyson said. “I didn’t prove anything to anyone. I proved something to myself. I’m not here to please the world; I’m just happy with what I can do.”
The former heavyweight champ also mentioned a possible future opponent, nodding towards Paul’s brother, Logan Paul, who attended the fight.
