YouTuber Jake Paul defeated Mike Tyson in a heavyweight rematch.

Mike Tyson’s contentious comeback to boxing culminated in a lopsided loss on Friday, when YouTuber-turned-prizefighter Jake Paul easily defeated the heavyweight legend in Texas via unanimous decision.

In the eight-round fight at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Tyson, 58, hardly managed to strike a punch. Paul won by significant scores on all three cards, 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73.

The 27-year-old Paul easily outclassed the aging Tyson with his speed and movement, and after a barrage of punches in the third round, the previous undisputed heavyweight champion was in trouble.

However, during Thursday’s bitter weigh-in, Tyson smacked the younger fighter across the face after he failed to deliver the knockout punch he had promised.

However, Tyson looked every inch of his 58 years, landing only a few significant blows during the bout, which was witnessed live by about 70,000 people, with an estimated millions more watching from across the globe.

On November 15, 2024, Jake Paul defeated Mike Tyson in a heavyweight fight at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, via unanimous decision. — via AFP
According to the final statistics, Paul threw about 278 punches and landed 78 of them, whereas Tyson only connected on 18 of 97.

Paul could even afford to bow to Tyson before the bell sounded as the eighth round’s final seconds drew near.

“It’s such an honor, Mike Tyson, first and foremost. After hugging Tyson after his victory, Paul exclaimed, “Let’s give it up for Mike.”

“He’s the best at it ever.” He is a legend, the greatest of all time. He inspires me, because without him, we wouldn’t be here today.

“Being able to fight this man is an honor; he is an icon.” It was really difficult, as I had anticipated, and he is undoubtedly the roughest, baddest man on the planet.

“I came to fight.”
Despite the lopsided nature of the loss, Tyson stated that he was happy with his performance.

He declared, “I came to fight.” “I’m content with what I can do; I didn’t prove anything to anyone but myself.”

Tyson claimed that wearing a brace on his right knee during the fight had no effect on how well he performed.

“I can’t justify myself with that. I wouldn’t be in here if I did,” he remarked.

Tyson, on the other hand, commended the caliber of his opponent Paul, who has effectively leveraged a career as a well-known YouTuber and content producer into a series of profitable boxing matches, including Friday’s event, which is sponsored and televised by streaming behemoth Netflix.

Tyson declared, “He’s a very good fighter,” without discounting the chance that he would fight again.

“I’m not sure. Depending on the circumstances, yes,” Tyson said.

When asked if Friday was his final fight, he responded, “I don’t think so.”

According to reports, Tyson received $20 million to participate in Friday’s fight, which took place 19 years after his last officially recognized professional fight, a 2005 loss to Irish journeyman Kevin McBride.

On November 15, 2024, a picture of US retired professional boxer Mike Tyson appears on a jumbotron as he arrives at The Pavilion at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, for his heavyweight boxing matchup with US YouTuber/boxer Jake Paul. — through AFP
The boxing community was shocked by the former heavyweight champion’s comeback to the ring, dismissing Friday’s fight as a gory circus that could have hurt the legendary boxer.

These worries increased in May when Tyson’s medical scare during a flight from Miami to Los Angeles caused the fight, which was originally scheduled for July, to be postponed.

Later on, Tyson disclosed that he had vomited blood due to an “ulcer flare-up.”

However, Tyson dismissed the worries about his health, claiming that his detractors were primarily envious of the fact that he is still a box office attraction decades after his 1980s peak, when he terrorized the heavyweight division.

When Tyson marched into the arena on Friday wearing his trademark black trunks and a black poncho draped over his body, he attempted to evoke that time of domination.

However, Paul easily kept Tyson at arm’s length throughout the fight, and that was as close as Tyson got to being the fighter he used to be.