This past November, Mike Tyson controversially returned to professional boxing when he took on Jake Paul in a monumental event at the AT&T Stadium, which streamed exclusively on Netflix. Despite the bout being covered in controversy because of the staggering 31-year age gap, it broke modern-day viewership records, as Netflix boasted that it peaked at 65 million concurrent streams worldwide.
Possibly one of the most viral moments to come out of Mike Tyson’s recent fight against Jake Paul was something that happened in the locker room before the two even stepped into the boxing ring.
Here's a look at the timeline of events and reactions surrounding the incident.
The Viral Moment
During an interview with Netflix, Tyson gave one last prediction of his fight, in which he claimed he was going to score a ‘vicious win’. After kissing the reporter on the cheek, the 58-year-old turned round and walked back to his team with his bare rear end being completely exposed. A reported 60 million households saw Mike pacing up and down in his Versace thong.
Almost a month removed from the fight, Tyson has finally reacted to the moment that broke the internet, before the two even stepped into the ring.
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Netflix's Hilarious Response to Mike Tyson's Bare Butt Blunder!
“Hey, television has really changed, huh, when that became a big thing. That’s just so ridiculous,” Tyson laughed in a recent interview with Fox Sports Radio. “That’s not important, I’ve looked, I’ve been that way my whole career, my butt’s been shown, no one took a picture of it.
Tyson's Unbothered Reaction
Mike Tyson has brushed off any controversy over his now-infamous behind being exposed on Netflix during the Jake Paul pay-per-view broadcast - saying it’s just part of boxing culture.
The former heavyweight king appeared alongside Shaquille O’Neal during a podcast segment in which the pair laughed about Tyson’s wardrobe slip being broadcast globally to millions of viewers.
Mike was asked, “What was it like having your ass at that pay-per-view out and everyone (seeing it). What was that like for you?”
Read also: Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul
Tyson responded coolly, “It meant nothing to me because as fighters, that’s what we walk around the gym like all the time."
“Before we put our trunks on, we walk around like that. I don’t look at it (like anything). Everybody walks around naked. That’s just what it is. It’s sports, right, Shaq?”
Shaq jumped in with his memories of Tyson, by stating, “When I was on your show, you came out with a towel and you were naked. What was that about?”
Tyson doubled down, “That’s how we are in the gym. We walk around naked.”
The exchange, while eyebrow-raising for casual viewers, highlighted how normal such behavior is behind the scenes in boxing gyms.
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Tyson then pointed out that fighters shirtless on TV is a sign of their real training. “That’s just what it is, especially a team, that’s just what it is.”
As always, the Baddest Man on the Planet kept it raw, unfiltered, and unapologetically Mike as millions of viewers saw his butt on stream littered with buffering.
The Meme That Became Inked History
It all started with a viral camera angle of Tyson during the fight. The unintentional focus on his backside took over social media, inspiring a wave of memes and jokes.
But the buzz hit a new level when a fan took things to extremes - by tattooing Mike Tyson's butt on their body. Yes, you read that right. The tattoo also features the infamous slap Tyson landed on Jake Paul during the pre-fight face-off, a moment that sparked widespread discussion and speculation about its authenticity.
One fan joked at the time that the Netflix problems could have been worse, as they might have buffered when Mike’s rear end appeared on the screen.
The Fight and Aftermath
Despite that, because of Paul’s performance, he and his team released an official statement shortly after, slamming claims that his fight against Tyson was ‘fixed’.
Jake Paul won the fight by unanimous decision. Two of the three judges gave all eight rounds to Paul, while the final judge only gave Tyson a single round. Paul moves to 11-1 in his career, with seven knockouts.
Following the fight, Tyson admitted that he was extremely proud of himself for making it to the fight, shedding more light on the health issues he endured earlier in the year, admitting he had eight blood transfusions, nearly dying.
“I’m grateful for last night,” Mike Tyson posted on his official X account. “No regrets to get in ring one last time. I almost died in June. Had 8 blood transfusions.
“To have my children see me stand toe to toe and finish 8 rounds with a talented fighter half my age in front of a packed Dallas Cowboy stadium is an experience that no man has the right to ask for,” Mike Tyson explained.
Conclusion
This tattoo might just be the closing chapter to the chaos that followed the Tyson vs. Paul saga.