Jake Paul defeats Mike Tyson amid controversy as boos are heard during the fight: YouTube star emerges victorious | Entertainment & Arts Update
YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul has emerged victorious in a match against former heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson, who is more than double his age.
Paul, aged 27, secured a unanimous points decision win at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas – the home of the Dallas Cowboys and the largest NFL stadium in the US.
The bout was already controversial and some spectators felt it did not meet expectations. Boos could be heard from the crowd in the final rounds due to a perceived lack of action.
Following the match, both fighters commended each other. Paul stated: “This man is an icon and it’s just an honor to be able to fight him. And he’s obviously the toughest, baddest man on the planet.”
Tyson, aged 58, praised Paul as a “good fighter” but shrugged off claims that he had something to prove.
“I didn’t prove anything to anybody, only to myself,” he remarked.
Jake Paul defeated Mike Tyson on points. Pic: AP
Boxing careers compared
This was not Paul’s first professional fight. The American YouTube star made his debut in 2020, and his most high-profile clash was last year against Tyson Fury’s brother Tommy Fury, which he lost by a split decision.
The so-called “Problem Child” has since defeated former UFC contender Nate Diaz, professional boxer Andre August, former Gold Gloves champion Ryan Bourland and most recently MMA fighter Mike Perry.
In contrast, “Iron Mike” Tyson was ranked among the best heavyweight boxers of all time.
During his career, he knocked out 44 opponents – retiring from professional boxing in 2005 after defeat against Kevin McBride.
He returned to the ring in 2020 for a bout against fellow boxing icon Roy Jones, which ended in an unofficial draw.
Mike Tyson struggled at times against Jake Paul, 31 years his junior. Pic: AP
‘Someone’s getting put to sleep’
Earlier this week, Paul expressed his belief that the match would not go the distance. “No, someone’s getting put to sleep,” he declared. “It’s going to be a war, and we’re both heavy hitters. It’s not going the full 16 minutes.”
Tyson remarked: “I’ve been through so many ups and downs since my last fight with Kevin McBride.
“I’ve been in rehab. I’ve been in prison, been locked up. Never in a million years did I believe I’d be doing this.”
Several states initially opposed the match, and the Texas Athletic Commission only approved it under certain conditions, given Tyson’s age.
The contest was restricted to eight rounds lasting a maximum of two minutes instead of three. Both fighters were also required to wear heavier gloves to reduce the impact of punches.
The match was originally set for July 20, but was postponed due to Tyson’s ulcer flareup.
Taylor defends title
Katie Taylor celebrates after defeating Amanda Serrano in Texas. Pic: AP
Meanwhile, in the undercard fights, Irish boxer Katie Taylor successfully defended her super lightweight world title against Puerto Rico’s Amanda Serrano.
The victory was a close one, as Taylor secured a 95-94 decision from all three judges in an intense battle.
This match occurred two and a half years after their first encounter at Madison Square Garden, which Taylor won by a split decision.
Bout suffered from buffering
Earlier in the evening, numerous Netflix users in the US faced issues with the broadcast, with some experiencing buffering, as reported on social media.
At one point, over 98,000 individuals reported problems according to Downdetector, a service tracking outages.
