The highly anticipated return of Mike Tyson to the ring ended in disappointment on Friday as YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul claimed a dominant unanimous decision victory at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The 58-year-old Tyson struggled throughout the eight-round exhibition, with judges scoring the fight overwhelmingly in favour of Paul: 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73. Despite flashes of his trademark aggression, the former undisputed heavyweight champion appeared outmatched by Paul’s superior speed, movement, and endurance.
Paul, 27, controlled the bout from the opening bell, using his agility to evade Tyson’s punches and landing clean combinations that troubled the ageing legend. In the third round, Paul unleashed a series of blows that had Tyson in visible distress, though he failed to deliver the knockout he had boldly promised during their fiery weigh-in on Thursday.
The YouTube star showed moments of respect towards the end, even bowing to Mike Tyson in the final seconds of the eighth round as the clock ticked down.
Mike Tyson, making his first return to boxing in over a decade, showed his age in the ring. Landing just 18 of his 97 punches, he struggled to keep up with Paul’s pace. By contrast, Paul threw 278 punches and connected on 78 of them, underlining the stark difference in activity and accuracy.
The fight concluded with a unanimous decision that mirrored the trajectory of the contest: a clear, dominant win for Paul.
Tyson’s return had been met with mixed emotions, with fans eager to see the heavyweight legend in action but cautious about his ability to compete at such an advanced age. Paul, meanwhile, called the fight a dream come true, lauding Tyson as one of his idols but also defending his performance against criticism of facing an ageing opponent.
Tyson, gracious in defeat, praised Paul’s performance, acknowledging that the younger fighter was simply the better man on the night.
