The heavyweight boxing mega-event between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson took place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The fight, streamed exclusively on Netflix, featured Jake “El Gallo” Paul (11-1, 7 KOs) against Mike Tyson (50-7, 44 KOs). The event was sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
Image illustrating Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul fight
With only days to go, fans eagerly awaited the clash of these two eras. Tyson, the first undisputed heavyweight champion in the three-belt era, was set to compete in his first professional fight in nearly two decades. Paul had won 10 of 11 matches since making his boxing debut in 2020. Now, "The Problem Child" met "The Baddest Man on the Planet" in what was a highly anticipated match.
Fight Details
The fight had unique conditions set by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation:
- Fighters used 14-ounce gloves instead of the standard 10-ounce gloves typically used by heavyweight fighters.
- Each round lasted two minutes rather than the usual three minutes.
- The fight consisted of eight rounds.
These conditions significantly influenced the pace and strategy of the fight.
Read also: Mike Tyson vs. Brock Lesnar?
How to Watch
Fans watched the event on Netflix, which hosted its first boxing match on the platform. This option allowed viewers across the country to enjoy the fight with a monthly subscription.
Streaming Details:
- Streaming: Netflix
Fight Card
The card for the boxing event, organized by Paul's Most Valuable Promotions, also featured a rematch between two-division undisputed champion Katie Taylor and seven-division champion Amanda Serrano.
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson Fight Highlights | #PaulTyson
Full Fight Card:
- Heavyweight: Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul
- Super Lightweight: Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano for Taylor's IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO women's super-lightweight titles
- Welterweight: Mario Barrios vs. Abel Ramos for Barrios' WBC welterweight title
- Super Middleweight: Neeraj Goyat vs. Whindersson Nunes
- Super Middleweight: Shadasia Green vs. Melinda Watpool for vacant women’s WBO super middleweight title
- Super Lightweight: Lucas Bahdi vs. Armando Casamonica
- Featherweight: Bruce Carrington vs. Dana Coolwell
The Fight's Progression
In the first round, both fighters entered in an orthodox stance, throwing punches at each other. By the second round, Tyson seemed to have lost momentum, a pattern that continued throughout the fight. Paul won via unanimous decision with scores of 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73.
After a first round that saw Tyson aggressive, his age caught up to him. Tyson appeared slow for most of the fight and barely landed any significant punches. His offensive output dropped considerably from the mid-rounds on. The much younger Paul peppered his opponent with jabs and hooks throughout the bout while taking little damage.
Read also: Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul
Reactions and Controversies
Many criticized Paul for fighting Tyson due to the age difference. The 31-year age difference between Tyson and Paul is the largest age difference in professional boxing history.
Former UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland criticized Paul, stating, "this should be illegal" and called Paul a clown, with former Middleweight Champion Dricus du Plessis agreeing. Fellow YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI described the bout on Instagram as "elderly abuse".
In response, Tyson cited his years of training, calling himself a “different species of human being”. In a press conference with Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo, Tyson distinguished biological age from chronological age, stating “Our man's biggest downfall is to believe we have limitations and that's what we do, we believe we're a certain amount of age”.
Before the match, during the weigh-in, Paul stepped on Tyson's toes. Tyson, who has foot problems due to sciatica, slapped Paul across the face. Tyson told the New York Post, "I was in my socks and he had on shoes. He stepped on my toe because he is a f***ing a**hole. I wanted to think it happened by accident. But now I think it may have happened on purpose," adding "I was in a lot of pain."
Netflix faced criticism for technical difficulties that plagued the event's livestream. Many viewers were unable to watch the fight due to buffering.
Read also: The Legend of Iron Mike
Following the fight, some outlets expressed concerns that the fight was staged.
Additional Fight Highlights
The co-main event saw Katie Taylor defeat Amanda Serrano via unanimous decision (95-94 on all three judges cards). The bout, a rematch from their epic first meeting, was another instant classic that saw 324 landed punches.
Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, noted that the event gave them a chance to reach millions of people thanks to the power of Netflix.
| Fighter | Record | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Tyson | 50-7 | Loss (Unanimous Decision) |
| Jake Paul | 11-1 | Win (Unanimous Decision) |
Image illustrating Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano fight