Former YouTuber and now boxer, Jake Paul, has triumphed over one of the most legendary fighters in history, ex-heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson, who is more than double his age.
Paul, aged 27, secured the victory through a unanimous points decision at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas—home to the Dallas Cowboys and the largest NFL venue in the United States.
The match was controversial and, ultimately, it arguably fell short of expectations. The audience voiced their dissatisfaction with boos during the last two rounds, perceiving a lack of engagement.
Following the bout, both fighters expressed admiration for one another. Paul remarked: “This man is an icon, and it’s an honor to compete against him. He is undeniably the toughest, baddest man on the planet.”
Tyson, 58, labeled Paul as a “skilled fighter” but dismissed any notions that he was attempting to prove a point.
“I didn’t prove anything to anyone, only to myself,” he stated.
Jake Paul won against Mike Tyson on points. Pic: AP
Comparison of Boxing Careers
This was not Paul’s inaugural professional fight. The American social media star embarked on his boxing journey in 2020, with his most notable encounter occurring last year against Tommy Fury, the brother of Tyson Fury, in which he lost by a split decision.
The so-called “Problem Child” has since achieved victories over former UFC contender Nate Diaz, professional boxer Andre August, ex-Gold Gloves champion Ryan Bourland, and most recently MMA fighter Mike Perry.
In stark contrast, “Iron Mike” Tyson is revered as one of the finest heavyweight boxers in history.
Throughout his career, he knocked out 44 rivals—retiring from professional boxing in 2005 following a defeat at the hands of Kevin McBride.
He made a comeback to the ring in 2020 for a match against fellow boxing legend Roy Jones Jr., which concluded in an unofficial draw.
Mike Tyson faced challenges against Jake Paul, who is 31 years younger. Pic: AP
‘Someone’s Going to Get Knocked Out’
Earlier this week, Paul expressed his belief that the match would not go the full distance. “No, someone’s getting knocked out,” he stated. “It’s going to be a battle, and we’re both heavy hitters. It won’t last the whole 16 minutes.”
Tyson remarked: “I’ve experienced numerous ups and downs since my last fight with Kevin McBride.
“I’ve been in rehabilitation, I’ve served time in prison—never did I think I would find myself in this position.”
Several states barred the match from proceeding, and the Texas Athletic Commission consented to the fight only if modifications were made due to Tyson’s age.
This led to the reduction of the contest to eight rounds, each lasting a maximum of two minutes instead of three. Both fighters were also mandated to wear weightier gloves, designed to minimize the impact of their strikes.
The fight was originally slated for July 20 but was delayed when Tyson experienced a flare-up of an ulcer.
Taylor Retains Title
Katie Taylor celebrates after her victory over Amanda Serrano in Texas. Pic: AP
Meanwhile, in the undercard bouts, Irish boxer Katie Taylor successfully defended her super lightweight world title against Puerto Rico’s Amanda Serrano.
The match was contentious, with Taylor winning the rematch by a score of 95-94 from all three judges in an epic clash.
This bout occurred two and a half years after the two faced off at Madison Square Garden, where Taylor emerged victorious via split decision.
Broadcasting Issues
Earlier in the evening, numerous Netflix users across the United States reported challenges with the streaming coverage, with many taking to social media to voice their concerns regarding buffering.
At one point, over 98,000 individuals were reported to have experienced issues according to Downdetector, a service that monitors outages.
