The highly anticipated boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul has been the subject of much debate and speculation. Adding fuel to the fire, a supposed script of the fight circulated on social media, raising questions about the legitimacy of the event. Let's delve into the details surrounding this controversy.
Mike Tyson, at 58 years old, faced off against YouTuber Jake Paul at the AT&T Stadium in Texas. Despite Tyson's legendary status, bookmakers initially favored Paul, although Tyson's odds shortened after he slapped Paul during their face-off. Both fighters expressed confidence in their ability to knock each other out, setting the stage for a potentially explosive match.
However, the emergence of a circulating script, reminiscent of a fake one shared before Paul's fight with Tommy Fury, cast a shadow of doubt over the event. The script outlined each round, predicting that Paul would stop a weary Tyson in the fifth round to secure victory. Despite the existence of this script, there were no concrete indications that the fight was actually rigged.
The Alleged Script: Round-by-Round Breakdown
Here's how the circulating script predicted the fight would unfold:
- Round 1: Tyson starts strong, using his signature bob-and-weave style, but Paul maintains distance and lands a quick combination.
- Round 2: Tyson cuts off the ring and lands a powerful left hook, but Paul weathers the storm and uses his reach advantage.
- Round 3: Paul gains confidence and lands a sharp right cross, while Tyson's head movement begins to slow.
- Round 4: Tyson shows signs of fatigue, and Paul lands cleaner shots, opening a cut above Tyson's left eye.
- Round 5: Paul presses forward, lands a devastating right hand, and Tyson falls to the canvas, unable to beat the count.
Ultimately, according to the script, Jake Paul wins by KO in Round 5.
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Reactions and Criticisms
Paul is accustomed to accusations of rigging his fights, although he and his opponents have denied such claims. Speaking about being underestimated, Paul expressed that it used to bother him. The fight itself, sanctioned as a professional bout by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations, adhered to specific regulations, including eight two-minute rounds and 14-ounce gloves.
Critics, including former UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland, condemned the fight due to the significant age difference between Tyson and Paul, labeling it as "elderly abuse." In response, Tyson emphasized his years of training and dismissed concerns about age, stating, "Age doesn’t matter. Age is just a number. He’s a killer, he’s a warrior, he’s been doing this his whole, entire life, so it’s second nature to him."
During the weigh-in, tensions escalated when Paul stepped on Tyson's toes, exacerbating Tyson's foot problems. This led to Tyson slapping Paul across the face, further fueling the controversy surrounding the fight.
The event also faced technical difficulties during the livestream, with many viewers experiencing buffering issues. Following the fight, some outlets raised concerns about whether the fight was staged.
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Fight Details and Aftermath
The bout between Paul and Tyson was sanctioned as a professional bout by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations, with some regulations based on masters boxing for amateur participants over 35. The bout was eight rounds of two minutes each (two minute rounds are used in women's and amateur masters boxing) with 14-ounce gloves (slightly lighter than the masters boxing rule of 16 ounces). In the first round, both fighters entered in an orthodox stance, both throwing punches at each other. However, by the second round, Tyson seemed to have already been tired out and had lost momentum, which is a pattern that would continue throughout the fight. Paul won via unanimous decision.
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Many criticized Paul for fighting Tyson due to the significant 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 on X, 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 had 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”. In a press conference, Paul stated “A lot of people are doubting me. I go onto the Instagram comments and I see them all saying, ‘If Jake wins this fight, it’s rigged’ because of how incredible he looks. Age doesn’t matter. Age is just a number. He’s a killer, he’s a warrior, he’s been doing this his whole, entire life, so it’s second nature to him.
During the weigh-in the day prior to the match, Paul stepped on Tyson's toes; Tyson has been on record stating he has foot problems due to health issues including sciatica, and has an aversion to people stepping on them. Tyson slapped Paul across the face, afterwards telling the New York Post "I was in my socks and he had on shoes. He stepped on my toe because he is a fucking asshole. 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 has been criticized for widespread technical difficulties that plagued the event's livestream. Many viewers tuning in were unable to watch the fight due to buffering. Following the fight, a number of outlets expressed concerns that the fight was staged.
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