The Tyson vs. Jake Paul Fight Was a Letdown, but Sydney Thomas Stole the Spotlight
The Tyson vs. Jake Paul Fight Was a Letdown, but Sydney Thomas Stole the Spotlight
The heavyweight fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, streamed live on Netflix last November, did not meet expectations. Fans witnessed a 58-year-old Mike Tyson struggling to keep up, ultimately losing by unanimous decision to 27-year-old boxer-turned-YouTuber Jake Paul.
However, the event still delivered an unexpected knockout moment—not in the ring, but through Sydney Thomas.
The Ring Card Girl Who Took the Internet by Storm
Sydney Thomas, a 21-year-old management and business student at the University of Alabama, was hired by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions as a Ring Card Girl.
While she had already built a small social media presence, Thomas had never participated in an event of this scale, let alone one where she would interact with major celebrities.
“I talked to Paul for a bit before the press conference. He introduced himself and told us to ‘give it our all!'” Thomas recalled.
“I didn’t get the chance to talk to Tyson. Before the fight, you could tell he was completely locked in and didn’t want to speak with anyone outside of his team.”
Reflecting on the fight, she admitted:
“The outcome was a bit underwhelming. At first, I was rooting for Paul, but as the fight went on and it became clear that Tyson wasn’t doing well, I started to feel bad and wanted Tyson to win.”
From an Ordinary Student to a Viral Sensation
Thomas revealed that she manifested this opportunity by writing on a note card:
“I will be a Ring Card Girl for the Paul vs. Tyson fight in November.”
A few weeks later, her dream became reality. But what no one could have predicted was the massive viral reaction she would receive, as the fight was viewed by around 108 million people worldwide.
- Her Instagram following skyrocketed from 220,000 to over 850,000.
- Her TikTok audience grew from 630,000 to over 1 million followers.
- Her story was featured in Fox News, People, New York Post, Daily Mail, and other major media outlets.
“I was completely shocked by how fast everything happened,” she told Maxim.
“I didn’t expect such a huge reaction. So many brands, fans, and even people I admire reached out to me.”
Career Breakthrough and Future Plans
Thanks to her newfound fame, Thomas has:
– Extended her ambassador contract with Fashion Nova.
– Signed with top talent agency Creative Artists Agency.
– Appeared on the red carpet at the 2024 F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, hosted by Sports Illustrated and Wynn Las Vegas.
Beyond her personal success, Thomas has also partnered with the nonprofit organization Pink Ribbon Good, which provides free services to breast cancer and gynecological cancer patients.
“My mother passed away from breast cancer a year ago. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about her.”
“I hope to inspire others going through similar battles—to show them that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
Aside from her philanthropic work, she has big goals for the future:
- Continuing to work as a Ring Card Girl for Most Valuable Promotions.
- Graduating early in August 2025.
- Aspiring to land the cover of a major magazine.
Thomas has long admired Kate Upton, a former Maxim Hot 100 cover star.
“As I get deeper into modeling and social media, I really look up to Kate Upton. She’s a powerhouse, and I aspire to be like her!”
With a stunning presence, relentless work ethic, and smart career moves, Sydney Thomas is well on her way to achieving her dreams.
