November 15, 2024
The highly anticipated boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson held at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, ended in a defeat for the former heavyweight champion.
A YouTuber-turned-boxer, Jake Paul, secured a unanimous decision victory over Mike Tyson in an eight-round heavyweight boxing match, which was part of a Netflix streaming event, marking Tyson’s first professional bout since his retirement in 2005.
The bout was originally scheduled for July 20 but was delayed due to Tyson’s health issues, specifically an ulcer flare-up he experienced in May.
The fight consisted of eight two-minute rounds, with both fighters wearing 14-ounce gloves instead of the standard 10-ounce gloves used in heavyweight matches.
The event was sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
Jake Paul, 27, dominated the fight, landing 78 of 278 shots (28%) compared to Tyson’s 18 of 97 (18%). The judges scored the fight 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73 in favor of Paul.
Throughout the match, Paul utilised his youth and agility to outmanoeuvre the 58-year-old Tyson, consistently closing the distance and landing jabs and left hooks.
Post-fight reactions
The victory took Paul’s professional boxing record to 11-1.
In a post-fight interview, Paul admitted to holding back during the fight, stating he was trying to “hurt Tyson a little bit” while being cautious due to his respect for the former champion.
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Many fans and critics felt that Paul did not give his full effort, leading to accusations of “pulling his punches.”
Financial aspects
The event was highly lucrative for both fighters. Jake Paul reportedly earned $40 million, while Mike Tyson secured an estimated $20 million.
The gate receipts totalled $17.8 million from over 70,000 attendees at the 80,000-seat AT&T Stadium.
Prospects
Despite the age gap and potential ring rust, Tyson expressed satisfaction with his performance and did not rule out the possibility of future fights.
He mentioned Jake Paul’s brother, Logan, as a potential future opponent.
Paul, on the other hand, expressed confidence in taking on any future opponent, highlighting the massive viewership and financial success of the event.
The bout was part of a larger event that included a co-main event between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano for the undisputed women’s super lightweight championship, streamed live on Netflix.
