Jake Paul and Mike Tyson went head to head in a professional boxing match months in the making, but only one fighter could come out on top.
Paul ultimately won the match at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Friday, November 15, with the event streaming live globally on Netflix.
The scorecards awarded Paul the win in a unanimous decision (80-72, 79-73 x 2) after he landed 78 punches while Tyson landed only 18.
Tyson’s loss marks the first time he lost via a decision rather than a KO, no contest or a disqualification.
“Well it happened. Jake Paul beat Mike Tyson. The crowd here isn’t sure what to make of it,” commentator Mauro Ranallo said of the result.
“It’s such an honor. He’s a legend. He’s the greatest to ever do it. I’m inspired by him,” Paul said following his win. “This man is an icon. It’s an honour to be able to fight him. It was really tough, like I expected it to be.”
Meanwhile, Tyson was gracious in defeat, saying, “I didn’t prove nothing to anybody, only to myself. I’m not one of those guys that wants to please the world. I’m only happy with what I can do.”
News broke in March that Paul, 27, and Tyson, 58, would face off in a boxing match, initially scheduled to take place on July 20. (The social media star has been boxing since 2018, while Tyson was a professional boxer from 1985 to 2005.)
“Mike wanted this to be a pro fight. He wants the war. I respect him for stepping up and try to put an end to me,” Paul teased during a May press conference.
“I really like Jake a lot,” Tyson chimed in. “But once he’s in the ring he has to fight like his life depends on it — because it will.”
Two months before the fight was set to occur, Tyson suffered a medical emergency during a flight from Miami to Los Angeles in May, with his team insisting to Us Weekly at the time that he was “doing great” in the wake of the incident.
“He became nauseous and dizzy due to an ulcer flareup 30 minutes before landing,” Tyson’s rep said. “He is appreciative to the medical staff that were there to help him.”
Tyson and Paul both hinted at the time that the fight would move forward as scheduled.
“You love to make s— up before knowing the facts for clicks / likes,” Paul wrote via X in May. “Nothing changed #PaulTyson.”
Tyson later added, “Now feeling 100% even though I don’t need to be to beat Jake Paul.”
Despite the pair’s earlier assertions, Tyson announced in May that he needed to postpone the fight due to his medical issues.
“During a follow-up consultation on Thursday with medical professionals on his recent ulcer flareup, the recommendation is for Mike Tyson to do minimal to light training over the next few weeks and then return to full training with no limitations,” read a statement from Tyson’s team posted on social media.
The statement noted that Tyson and Paul were “in agreement” over the decision, explaining, “It is only fair that both athletes have equal training time to prepare for this important match and are able to compete at the highest level.”
In his own statement, Tyson thanked his fans for their “support and understanding” as he healed.
“Unfortunately, due to my ulcer flareup, I have been advised by my doctor to lighten my training for a few weeks to rest and recover,” he said. “My body is in better overall shape than it has been since the 1990s and I will be back to my full training schedule soon. Jake Paul, this may have bought you some time, but in the end, you will still be knocked out and out of boxing for good. I appreciate everyone’s patience and can’t wait to deliver an unforgettable performance later this year.”
