The fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, a highly anticipated but poor-quality show, became one of the biggest disappointments in sports in 2024 for the thousands of people who packed the Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington and the millions who watched - or tried to watch - it on Netflix despite all the technical issues with the platform.
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Paul doesn't know how to box, and it showed. Mike Tyson is 58 years old and hadn't fought in 19 years, and it showed.
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For the statistics, it will remain that the YouTuber defeated the former world heavyweight champion by unanimous decision, with a scorecard of 80-72 (meaning Paul won all eight rounds) and 79-73 in the other two. But what will remain in memory is that this fight had a lot of noise and very little boxing.
What will Mike Tyson do after this defeat?
Not a lower number of assaults (8) with a shorter duration (2 minutes), nor heavier gloves (14 ounces), could translate into much action for a 58-year-old veteran in his first professionally sanctioned fight in almost two decades, facing a boxing novice with hopes of fighting for championships in the future.
Tyson came out strong against Paul in the opening seconds, and briefly again at the start of the second round. The YouTuber acknowledged that he thought the former world champion was too fatigued to be a threat beyond the third round.
That's why the audience booed near the end of the fight and many chose to leave before it was over. All the mutual hatred expressed during the pre-fight preparation vanished. Paul even stopped in the middle of the match to bow to Tyson.
However, Mike Tyson did not say that it will be his last fight even though he reduced his record to 50-7, with 44 knockouts. "I don't know. I don't think so. It will depend on the situation," he said, before suggesting a fight with the older brother Jake, Logan Paul, who was standing near him in the ring.
"I will kill you, Mike," responded Logan Paul, who is 29 years old and already had an exhibition fight against Floyd Mayweather three years ago. Currently, Paul is part of WWE, the biggest professional wrestling company.
For this fight, "Iron Mike" will receive 20 million dollars and Jake Paul will keep $40 million.
Jake Paul wants to pursue a professional career in boxing
The YouTuber believes that in two years he could be fighting for a championship belt. "I think it could happen in the next 24 months," Paul said. "I really believe in my skills, my ability, and my power. And the light heavyweight division seems to be open for the taking within that timeframe."
There is no doubt that the younger Paul will return to the ring. He started boxing four and a half years ago and has always said he wants to be a championship boxer.
““He is a very good fighter,” said Tyson. However, Paul still has a lot to prove. He has a record of 11-1 with seven knockouts and his only defeat was against Tommy Fury, the brother of former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.”