Social media star-turned-boxer Jake Paul scored a unanimous decision victory over former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in their highly-anticipated professional bout Friday night in Arlington, Texas. CNN I mentioned.
In front of a crowd of 72,300 at AT&T Stadium, Paul controlled most of the bout against Tyson, earning a unanimous decision victory and becoming only the sixth fighter to defeat the former heavyweight champion.
The bout between the 27-year-old social media influencer turned award-winning fighter and the 58-year-old former heavyweight champion was broadcast live on Netflix.
This victory increases Jake Paul’s professional record to 11 wins against one defeat, after seven knockouts, which strengthens his position as a reliable competitor in boxing.
Fans were very disappointed that Tyson – given his age – was never able to land any attacks against his younger opponent and landed only 18 punches to Paul’s 78.
“First and foremost, Mike Tyson, it’s a huge honor to be able to fight him,” Paul said.
“It’s been as hard and difficult as I thought it would be.”
He said the former champion was an icon and it was an honor to fight him.
“He is my goat, he inspires me, and we wouldn’t be here today without him.”
Tyson, who was wearing a knee brace, never posed much of a challenge after some wobbly left hands in the third round, but he defended enough to avoid taking any serious damage.
He admitted after the match that he fought due to 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 ready, I came to fight. I didn’t prove anything to anyone, just myself. I’m not one of those people who lives to please the world. I’m just happy with what I can do.”
Tyson, one of the most feared heavyweight champions of all time during his heyday in the late 1980s and early 1990s, was making his first professional fight in nearly 20 years. He was noncommittal when asked if he would return to the ring again.
“I don’t 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 he was the main attraction at the mega event that brought a star-studded crowd and 72,300 fight fans to the home of the Major League Soccer team’s Dallas Cowboys. American. .
“This is the biggest event, over 120 million people on Netflix. We’ve disrupted the site, the biggest US boxing portal, $20 million, in US history, and everyone is next in line.”