Jake Paul’s boxing match against Mike Tyson had plenty of hype. It still ended up being a 27-year-old fighting a 58-year-old.
Technically, Paul won the fight. He landed more punches, won more rounds, had his hand raised by the referee. It’s still hard to say he helped anything but his bank account by beating up a man four years from being able to pick up social security checks.
The match somehow received official sanctioning, the largest ever gap in age allowed by the people in charge of the beleaguered sport. For a round or two, it looked like it might be an actual fight, but then Paul wobbled Tyson in the third and it was very clear what was happening from there on that.
Tyson didn’t have the reach or quickness to touch Paul, who worked him over with the jab again and again. At one point, commentator Rosie Perez was openly wondering why Paul “wasn’t just teeing off” on Tyson, and the answer was likely that the YouTuber and his backers probably wanted the fight to go the distance. Tyson landed a total of 18 punches across eight two-minute rounds.
Paul can at least still say he draws a crowd like no one in boxing, but that might have been counter-productive. Fighting one of the legends of the ’90s attracted a new level of fans, eager to see Tyson fight again and perhaps finally end this sideshow. Instead, they got Paul carrying an old man. Paul’s entire breadth of official wins consists of MMA fighters, old men, complete no-names and a former NBA player.
No objective observers were happy with what they were seeing. Some were frustrated, others were just sad.
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson reviews weren’t good
kind of wish it was still buffering. this is tough to watch.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) November 16, 2024
Tyson can’t come forward because his knees are gone. He can only move side to side. Pathetic scenes and the soundtrack is filled with boos #PaulTyson
— Tom Gray (@Tom_Gray_Boxing) November 16, 2024
Really hope Jake Paul doesn’t throw out his back carrying Mike Tyson.
— Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) November 16, 2024
That should not have been legal. It was very sad
— Ashlee Vance (@ashleevance) November 16, 2024
This fight is making Mayweather-Pacquiao look like the Thrilla in Manila.
— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) November 16, 2024
Boxing is a dangerous sport, and the fact that a 58-year-old man with 215 professional rounds under his belt who can barely walk was cleared to fight is a disgrace. The boxing world was failed by those who are supposed to regulate it #PaulTyson
— Ryan Songalia (@ryansongalia) November 16, 2024
Jake Paul is running the greatest con in a sport historically full of them.
What a sport boxing is. Lol.
— Bryan Fonseca 🇵🇷 (@BryanFonsecaNY) November 16, 2024
Jerry Jones laughing all the way to the bank
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) November 16, 2024
Jake is definitely holding back, man. You can tell he doesn’t wanna put Mike to sleep…
— Russell Dorsey (@Russ_Dorsey1) November 16, 2024
Tbh it feels like Mike is just trying to not get knocked out … but this might be more of an embarrassing showing
— Ryan Herrera (@ryan_a_herrera) November 16, 2024
Think about it, this technically is the same sport and division as Ali-Frazier. Technically.
— David O’Brien (@DOBrienATL) November 16, 2024
i’m trying to think of what 60 year old i’d fight. like, that just sounds weird.
— shakeia (@curlyfro) November 16, 2024
Tyson used to be able cut off the ring on any one. He was so fast. Watching him stand in the middle of the ring flat footed is sad.
— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) November 16, 2024
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