The fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson is considered “trash”
The fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson is considered “trash”
One is a YouTuber turned boxer. The other is a legendary fighter who hasn’t competed professionally in nearly 20 years.
The Clash Between a YouTuber and a Boxing Legend
The matchup between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson, held at the Dallas Cowboys’ home stadium before more than 70,000 fans and millions watching on Netflix, drew significant attention in the sports world. Netflix announced that the event broke records with 60 million households tuning in, peaking at 65 million concurrent streams, and described it as a “major event” that “dominated social media” and “shattered records.” According to Jake Paul, over 120 million people watched the event.
However, despite the hype, viewers didn’t witness a top-tier professional boxing match. Jake Paul secured a unanimous decision win after eight lackluster rounds. Tyson, at 58 years old, threw only 97 punches throughout the fight, landing 18 of them, while Paul capitalized on his youth to outlast the seasoned veteran.
Mike Tyson – Returning After 19 Years
Mike Tyson’s return to the ring after a 19-year hiatus brought mixed emotions. Longtime fans were thrilled to see the legend back, but others expressed disappointment. Evander Holyfield, Tyson’s former heavyweight rival, called the match “not a good fight” with a wistful smile. NBA legend Magic Johnson declined to watch, stating it was “too sad.”
Meanwhile, Jake Paul faced criticism for repeatedly choosing much older opponents, including past-their-prime names like Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva, and Nate Diaz. Former heavyweight champion Tony Bellew argued that Paul should face “a legitimate, fit opponent instead of grandfathers,” while Olympic gold medalist Nicola Adams stated that if Tyson were in his prime, the result would have been completely different.
Match Quality and Divided Opinions
The quality of the Tyson-Paul fight was further highlighted when compared to the following event, where Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano delivered a boxing classic. Many fans felt the Tyson-Paul bout was more of a spectacle than a legitimate sporting event.
Preparations for the match mirrored that of a professional boxing event, with trash talk and even a slap from Tyson during the weigh-in. But once in the ring, the physical disparity between the fighters became apparent, as Tyson struggled to maintain his performance against Jake Paul.
Praise, Criticism, and Final Thoughts
Despite improving his record to 11-1 after the fight, Jake Paul faced ongoing criticism. Some suggested that his strategy to prolong the fight was more about “putting on a show” than true competition. Boxing champion Terence Crawford commented, “I love Mike Tyson, but they gave him way too much credit. He looked terrible. Training that long and only throwing 97 punches is insane. I’m just glad he didn’t get hurt out there.“
The fight also became a source of countless memes on social media, with fans poking fun at the subpar streaming quality and the overall disappointment of the event. Nevertheless, it remains a testament to the growing trend of social media stars venturing into professional sports, bringing both intrigue and controversy to the table.
