Social media star Jake Paul has stunned the boxing world by defeating former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in an intergenerational showdown that some are calling one of the most-watched boxing events ever. Paul claimed victory by unanimous decision Friday in Texas, where he faced off against the legendary Tyson in an eight-round bout streamed live on Netflix.
Despite the pre-fight tension, Paul showed respect to Tyson, bowing as the final bell sounded. The judges’ scorecards weren’t close: one judge scored it 80-72 for Paul, and two others gave him a 79-73 lead, solidifying his win. Tyson, 58, began with an initial burst of punches but slowed down as the fight progressed, allowing Paul to take the lead.
The matchup, promoted by Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix, sparked controversy across the boxing community. Some fans and experts, including Canadian Boxing Hall of Famer Spider Jones, criticized the bout as a “sham,” questioning the legitimacy of pairing a young, internet-famous boxer with a retired legend. Jones commented that Paul, who has trained seriously since his professional debut four years ago, should be challenging active contenders rather than Tyson, who has been retired since 2005.
On the other hand, promoters argue that any publicity is good for the sport. Tyler Buxton, president of United Promotions Boxing, praised the event’s reach, calling it the biggest boxing event of the year. He also noted that Paul’s commitment to boxing shouldn’t be underestimated.
The streaming event encountered high viewer demand, with over 85,000 users reporting service interruptions on Netflix due to traffic surges. The event marked one of Netflix’s largest forays into live sports streaming, signaling a new trend as platforms embrace live sports content.
Source: Swifteradio.com
