It was one of the most talked-about events of the year, and it turned out to be quite the spectacle. Jake Paul, the YouTube star turned professional boxer, squared off against legendary heavyweight Mike Tyson, bringing together two generations of boxing fans under the dazzling lights of AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on November 15, 2024.
The anticipation leading up to the fight was palpable, fuelled by social media hype, celebrity endorsements, and betting odds. Paul, at 27, seemed to have the edge over Tyson, who at 58 was stepping back inside the ring for the first time since his professional retirement two decades earlier. Tyson had not fought competitively since his 2020 exhibition against fellow boxing great Roy Jones Jr., and there were many who questioned whether the former champion still had it, especially against someone almost 31 years younger.
Streaming through Netflix, which was courting its audience with high-profile boxing, the fight commenced as the evening's main event after several undercard bouts. It was expected to draw significant viewership, with fans eager to witness how the match would play out. For many, this was not just about boxing; it was about the nostalgia for Tyson, who had ruled the heavyweight division during the late '80s, and the rise of Paul, who has redefined celebrity boxing.
The bout itself was somewhat underwhelming. According to the judges’ scorecards, Paul won unanimously, with scores of 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73. While the fight continued for eight rounds, many bloggers and analysts noted the significant gap between Paul’s proactive approach and Tyson’s lack of activity as the match progressed.
"Jake Paul landed 78 punches to Tyson’s meager 18 throughout the match," reported the sports analytics site CompuBox. For the audience at the venue, which reportedly reached over 70,000 fans, there was more than just the fight to focus on. The event showcased the spectacle of boxing, with fireworks and momentary thrills, but it apparently failed to meet the crowd's expectations.
Most of the action saw Paul utilizing jabs and quick combinations, consistently keeping Tyson at bay. By the final rounds, Tyson had dropped even fewer punches; many remarked on how he seemed to run out of gas more than halfway through the fight. This led to heavy boos and discontent from the audience, who had come expecting to see the formidable Iron Mike go head-to-head with his younger opponent.
“He doesn’t have it anymore,” boxing analyst Roy Jones Jr. lamented during his commentary, as the crowd’s initial excitement fizzled out. Despite showing glimpses of his past prowess, Tyson appeared merely a shell of his former self. The evening culminated with Paul bowing to Tyson at the end of the match, which drew mixed reactions from those who remained until the final bell.
Much of the disappointment echoed outside the arena as well, with viewers reporting significant issues with the Netflix stream, leading to frustration among fans trying to tune in. Complaints ranged from buffering streams to poor resolution, mirroring the discontent felt by those at the venue. Social media was awash with reactions, not only criticizing the bout’s action but also the technical failures during the broadcast, leading some to call it unwatchable. “Let’s give it up for Mike,” Paul said during his post-fight speech, attempting to rally some applause for his legendary opponent. Yet, it went largely unacknowledged—another indication of the match's lackluster reception.
The undercard features were not without their drama either. The co-main event saw Amanda Serrano face off against Katie Taylor, only for Serrano to suffer another controversial decision loss after having thrown more punches, landing them at higher effectiveness. This earned her significant criticism, with many observers calling for the judges to reconsider how they evaluate women’s boxing.
The entire event served as both a celebration and warning of boxing’s contemporary state, where name recognition can often weigh heavier than knockout power. Jake Paul’s victory improved his professional boxing record to 11-1, maintaining his rising star position within the tumultuous world of celebrity boxing.
But Tyson’s comments post-fight also sparked curiosity. When asked if he might return after his lack of action, Tyson remarked, “I didn't prove nothing to anybody, only to myself,” hinting at he might still have some fire left inside him. Despite the mixed reception of the fight itself, the event showcased boxing’s ability to blend nostalgia with modernity, leaving its audience divided yet engaged.
