ALBAWABA - Jake Paul Shocks the Boxing World with Unanimous Win Over Mike Tyson.
Jake Paul, a YouTuber turned boxer, defeated former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in a highly anticipated professional match on Friday night in Arlington, Texas, by unanimous decision.
Tyson, as you might expect from a 58-year-old who hadn't competed professionally in 19 years, was a shadow of his former self.
Paul, 27, is a novice boxer who was too youthful and athletic for his opponent. He kept Tyson at bay, delivering jabs and accurate blows in an eight-round, two-minute bout.
Tyson was slow and lethargic. Before the fight, people greeted him like heroes, but once the bout ended, there were loud boos.
Fighting in front of 72,300 fans at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, Paul controlled the majority of the battle against Tyson, winning by unanimous decision after all three judges ruled in his favor with scores of 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73.
Paul's professional record now stands at 11-1, with seven knockouts, and he becomes the sixth boxer to defeat a Hall of Famer in his career.
"First and foremost, Mike Tyson, it's such an honor," Paul told him after the fight. "He's the goat. I look up to him, and he inspires me. Without him, we wouldn't be where we are today. Fighting an icon like him is an honor."
The first several rounds were rather low-key as the two boxers adjusted to each other's fighting techniques.
Tyson, who had not fought professionally in 19 years, battled aggressively in the third round, lunging forward with strong punches and clipping Paul early. However, Paul replied just moments later, catching Tyson with three well-placed punches that appeared to rattle the former heavyweight champion.
For the first time in the match, the 58-year-old became still as he began to exhibit signs of exhaustion. He never demonstrated the dips, slides, or surges forward with haymakers that earned him 44 knockouts.
Roy Jones Jr., Tyson's last opponent in an exhibition in November 2020, was on the broadcast panel and commented on Tyson's lack of movement. "I do not like Mike's legs. I do not like Mike's legs at all.
From there, Paul took control of the bout, landing combinations and causing Tyson problems with his jab. Tyson displayed flashes of energy in the later rounds but never posed a serious threat.
The bout was supposed to take place in July of this year, but it was postponed after Tyson developed an ulcer while on a flight.
After the battle, people asked Tyson if he thought he had shown the world that he could persevere despite his age.
"I didn't prove anything to anyone, just to myself." I'm not one of those people who tries to please everyone. Tyson stated, "I'm just happy with what I can do."
