Jake Paul beat boxing legend Mike Tyson with a unanimous decision to win an intergenerational heavyweight battle in Texas that failed to live up to its massive hype.
Friday night’s bout between 27-year-old social media influencer-turned-boxer Paul and 58-year-old former heavyweight champion Tyson was broadcast live on Netflix and took place in front of a sell-out crowd at London’s AT&T Stadium. Arlington.
Those fans were largely disappointed as Tyson showed his age and was never able to generate any offense against his younger opponent, landing just 18 punches to Paul’s 78.
“First of all, Mike Tyson: it’s an honor to be able to fight him,” Paul said. “It was as rough and tough as I thought it would be.”
Tyson, wearing a knee brace, never faced much of a challenge after being wobbled by some left hands in the third round, but did enough defensively to avoid taking any serious damage.
Tyson could continue to fight despite the defeat
After the race he admitted that he had been struggling with a leg injury. «Yes, but I can’t use that as an excuse. If I did, I wouldn’t be here,” Tyson said.
“I knew he was a good fighter. He was prepared. I came to fight. I haven’t proven anything to anyone, only myself. I’m not one of those guys who lives to please the world. I’m just happy with what I can do.”
Tyson, one of the most fearsome heavyweight champions of all time during his heyday in the late 1980s and early 1990s, was in his first professional fight in nearly 20 years. He didn’t put much effort into it when asked if he would return to the ring again. “I do not know. It depends on the situation,” he said.
Paul (11-1) said he can now fight anyone he wants, perhaps even Mexico’s Canelo Alvarez, after being the main attraction at the mega event that brought a star-studded crowd and some 72,300 fans to the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. .
Taylor vs. Serrano
In the primetime co-main event, Ireland’s Katie Taylor retained her super lightweight title by beating Amanda Serrano of Puerto Rico by a controversial unanimous decision after an abusive relationship.
Serrano came forward during the fight but their heads clashed violently early on, resulting in a deep cut over Serrano’s right eye. The referee later deducted a point from Taylor for a headbutt.
Ultimately, all three judges ruled 95-94 in favor of Taylor, who denied accusations from Serrano’s corner that she was fighting dirty.
Taylor won the pair’s previous fight at New York’s Madison Square Garden in April 2022 and said there would be a third fight.
