Jake Paul defeated Mike Tyson via unanimous decision 80-72, 79-73, 79-73 in a disappointing contest, even by adjusted expectations.
After a nice nostalgic start, fans quickly saw the 31-year age difference between Tyson and Paul in Texas.
Iron Mike may have even won the first round or two of this contest, but as the minutes ticked by, the legendary heavyweight became unsteady on his feet and noticeably off-balance when throwing punches.
Tyson threw a grand total of seven punches in round five and landed one. The question quickly became, why isn’t Jake Paul putting him away?
As the fight wore on, it became clear that Paul had no interest in knocking out a hero and probably, smartly so. The pair proverbially danced until the final bell where Paul was crowned the victor.
Paul was landing on Tyson whenever he felt like it
The pair embraced in the eighth round before the final bell
Round-by-round
1 – As expecting Tyson came out firing and three or four good shots counted for more than Paul’s jabs. 10-9
2 – Paul was on the move. Tyson unable to catch him. The jab prevails. 9-10
3 – Paul starting to boss it. Catching his idol with some sharp combinations. 9-10
4 – Crowd falling silent now as Tyson struggles to make any kind of impact. 9-10
5 – Tyson lands one clubbing left but spends the rest of the fifth eating leather. 9-10
6 – Paul had poked out a mocking tongue at the end of the fifth but Iron Mike could find no way of punishing the insult in the sixth. 9-10
7 – Looks as if Paul is taking it easy on Tyson. And subtly taking pity. 9-10
8 – Tyson comes out wearily for the last. Paul clearly carrying him and in the closing seconds he stands back and bows to one of the greats. 9-10
Tyson showed a brief flash of his old menacing self in the first round
Scene-setter
The good ol’ guys of Texas and their gals rolled in late from the bars. Most of the minds under those stetsons were focussed solely on Tyson and the curiosity of what might be his final appearance in boxing’s last chance saloon.
This wasn’t a fight crowd much fussed about undercards. Katie Taylor excepted, until she head-butted her way to the most outrageous of recent fights in which she has been the beneficiary of highly dubious decions and was jeered out of the ring.
While the fans loitered before taking their seats under the vast dome of this arena they were preceded in by the announcement that Tyson and Paul had set a new record for prize-fighting in the Lone Star state of $17.8 million in ticket sales.
On its own that would not have covered the multi-million dollar purses of the two principals – think 15 million for Mike and 35 for Jake – but it gave Netflix a solid base for funding the cost of this retro extravaganza.
Jake Paul did his best to be the showmen he believes himself to be
One boost came with a late raising of prices which counterbalanced much of the short fall from a drastic cut after Tyson’s imploding stomach ulcer forced a postponement which sowed doubt as to whether the fight would ever take place.
That and an ultimate luxury hospitality box for eight rigged up at ringside which sold for two million dollars 48 hours before the first bell.
As the signs on all the freeways here advise us: Don’t Mess With Texas.
If this place wants to put on a fight involving a bad ol’ boy approaching bus pass age which stirs critical controversy, it’s nobody else’s damn business.
This crowd was ready to party. As the atmosphere grew ever louder the roaring cheers for all the ring announcer’s mentions of Tyson managed to drown out the vile-mouthed rap pounded out by the DJ.
Be thankful for small mercies.
Tyson did take some of Paul’s best shots flush and kept standing
When the most gigantic screens in any sports stadium in the world showed Paul arriving in the building with his bosom friend the reception was mixed.
Iron Mike’s familiar, aloof walk to his dressing room almost lifted the roof off the AT&T.
By then this 80,000 super-seater looked as near as dammit full and there was no doubtiing where the loyalties of the majority lay.
None of them cared one jot about the eight rounds being reduced from three to two minute’s duration or that the gloves were padded from ten to 14 ounces.
This was an improbable chance to see one of the greatest heavyweights of all time roll back the years to when he was the Baddest Man On The Planet.
And to see Paul the showman driven to the ring in an emerald green open-top car with a pigeon to take Tyson’s fancy as a fellow passenger.
Iron Mike walked the walk. In black of course. To bedlam.
The hard work that had gone into this return was evident in the ripped condition of his body
