While Jake Paul ruined 58-year-old Mike Tyson’s boxing comeback Friday night, he took a conservative approach to his future in the sport afterward.
Paul earned a unanimous decision against the former heavyweight champion. The judges scored it 80-72, 79-73, 79-73, with the former YouTube star winning the striking battle 78-18 across eight two-minute rounds.
With 70,000 fans packed into AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, a sold-out crowd for Netflix’s introduction into the sport of boxing, Paul toned down his brash persona.
“It’s an honor,” Paul (11-1, 7 KOs) said after the fight. “Let’s give it up for Mike, bro. He’s a legend. Greatest to ever do it. He’s the GOAT. I look up to him. I’m inspired by him. We wouldn’t be here today without him. That man is an icon.”
Tyson (50-7, 44 KOs) quickly gave credit where credit was due, remaining classy in defeat.
“He was a good fighter,” Tyson said. “I knew he’d come prepared to fight.”
Tyson admitted he entered the fight injured, wearing a knee brace. However, he clarified he didn’t want to make excuses for losing and fought injured anyway.
As for what’s next for Paul, he said his options are open.
“Anyone I want,” Paul said. “This is the biggest boxing event — 120 million people on Netflix. We crashed the site. The biggest U.S. boxing gate — $20 million. U.S. history and everyone is next on the list.”
Paul kept it simple regarding a potential fight with pound-for-pound great Canelo Alvarez.
“Canelo needs me,” Paul said. “I’m not even gonna try to call him out. He knows he wants the payday, so he knows where the money man’s at.”
The gate revenue for Paul-Tyson exceeded $17.8 million. The old Texas boxing record of $9 million was set by Alvarez’s fight against Billy Joe Saunders in 2021.
Both Paul and Tyson showed respect at the end of the fight, bowing toward one another in unison while most of the crowd booed the non-fight sequence during the final seconds.
Despite his age, Tyson competed in an exhibition against Roy Jones Jr. in November 2020 and is open to continuing his re-introduction into boxing.
“I don’t think so,” Tyson said regarding whether he would put the gloves down for good.
The event featured seven fights, including a four-fight Netflix portion. Katie Taylor defeated Amanda Serrano via unanimous decision, retaining the women’s super lightweight championship in the night’s co-main event.
–Field Level Media
