Jake Paul defeated boxing legend Mike Tyson via unanimous decision Friday night, thrilling a crowd of 72,300 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The YouTuber-turned-boxer controlled much of the fight against Tyson, earning scores of 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73 from the judges. With the victory, Paul now holds an 11-1 professional record, including seven knockouts, and becomes the sixth fighter to defeat Tyson in his storied career.
"First and foremost, Mike Tyson, it's such an honor," Paul said immediately after the fight. "He's the G.O.A.T. I look up to him, I'm inspired by him, and we wouldn't be here today without him. This man is an icon and it's just an honor to be able to fight him."
The bout opened with cautious rounds as both fighters adjusted to each other. Tyson, 58, last fought professionally nearly two decades ago but showed flashes of his trademark aggression in the third round, throwing hard punches and briefly catching Paul. However, Tyson's energy waned, and he was visibly fatigued, becoming stationary as Paul found his rhythm. Roy Jones Jr., who faced Tyson in an exhibition match in 2020, noted from the broadcast booth, "I don't like Mike's legs. I don't like Mike's legs at all."
Paul took control of the fight, using effective jabs and combinations while Tyson struggled to maintain the explosive movements that once defined his career. Though Tyson had moments of intensity, he was never able to regain momentum. The fight, originally set for July but delayed due to Tyson's health issues, marked a stark reminder of the toll the years have taken on the former heavyweight champion.
"I didn't prove nothing to anybody, only to myself. I'm not one of those guys that looks to please the world. I'm just happy with what I can do," Tyson said after the fight, reflecting on his performance. Once feared for his brutal knockouts against opponents like Michael Spinks and Larry Holmes, Tyson's bout against Paul highlighted the challenges of aging in a sport that demands speed and endurance.
Paul, who entered professional boxing in 2020, described his journey as an evolution from "a whole YouTube extravaganza" to fighting respected athletes. Since then, he has defeated a mix of MMA veterans and professional boxers, carving out a controversial yet undeniable presence in boxing. For Paul, the victory over Tyson was a significant milestone in his unconventional career trajectory.
Meanwhile, Friday night's event was Netflix's first foray into live boxing, featuring seven bouts. However, the streaming platform faced technical issues, with viewers reporting buffering, sound glitches, and outages. Social media posts displayed frozen screens and disrupted broadcasts. "This is the biggest event. Over 120 million people on Netflix. We crashed the site," Paul said, referencing the platform's struggles.
The co-main event between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano ended in controversy as Taylor claimed a unanimous decision victory despite Serrano's dominance for much of the fight. Serrano called Taylor a "dirty fighter" following the match, which saw Taylor penalized for headbutts. The contentious decision and crowd reaction underscored the unpredictable nature of the night's fights.
