Social media sensation Jake Paul triumphed over boxing legend Mike Tyson in a highly anticipated bout that featured a dramatic age gap of more than 30 years. The event, held at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, was streamed live on Netflix and marked another milestone in Paul’s transition from YouTuber to professional boxer.
Paul won the fight by unanimous decision after eight rounds, each lasting two minutes. The victory improves his record to 11-1.
The 58-year-old Tyson and 27-year-old Paul had their showdown on Friday night, after the fight was delayed from its original July date due to Tyson suffering an ulcer flare-up on a flight in May. Tensions between the fighters flared again at the official weigh-in the day before, when Tyson slapped Paul in the face. Tyson later explained to the New York Post that the altercation happened after Paul stepped on his toe during their faceoff on stage.
Paul was the slight favorite going into the fight, with some notable figures, including former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, picking him to win. According to reports from DraftKings and other sources, Paul was expected to earn around $40 million from the event. Tyson, who has a history of earning substantial payouts, was reported to be taking home roughly $20 million.
Mike Tyson, a former heavyweight champion who made history as the youngest to ever hold that title, retired in 2005 and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2011. His most recent appearance in the ring was a 2020 exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr