It was the slap heard 'round the digital world. When Mike Tyson connected with Jake Paul’s jaw during the final weigh-in, the conversation shifted from "is this a joke?" to "oh, this is actually happening." If you’re trying to pin down exactly what time is tyson and paul fight, you’ve probably realized that "live on Netflix" works a bit differently than your standard Saturday night Pay-Per-View.
The event didn't just happen; it dominated the server capacity of the world's largest streaming giant. For those looking back at the schedule or trying to understand the timing of these massive crossover bouts, the logistics are fairly specific.
The Actual Start Times and Ring Walks
The main card for the event officially kicked off at 8:00 PM ET (5:00 PM PT). However, if you tuned in right at 8:00 PM expecting to see "Iron Mike" making his iconic, menacing walk to the ring, you would have found yourself watching three hours of undercard action first.
Basically, the main event didn't see the fighters actually making their entrances until much later. The ring walks for the Tyson and Paul fight took place around 11:00 PM ET / 10:00 PM CT. In the boxing world, these times are always "approximate" because they depend entirely on how long the previous fights last. If someone gets knocked out in the first round of a co-main event, everything moves up. If there’s a 10-round war with multiple blood-stoppages, you’re waiting until midnight.
Here is how those times shook out across the globe:
- New York (EST): Main card at 8 PM; Tyson/Paul walk at roughly 11 PM.
- London (GMT): Main card at 1 AM (Saturday); Tyson/Paul walk at roughly 4 AM.
- Sydney (AEDT): Main card at 12 PM (Saturday); Tyson/Paul walk at roughly 3 PM.
Honestly, the wait was half the story. Netflix’s broadcast featured a heavy dose of documentary-style packages and celebrity interviews to fill the gaps between bouts like Mario Barrios vs. Abel Ramos and the absolute barnburner that was Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano.
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Why the Timing Kept Changing
You might remember this fight was originally supposed to happen in July. It didn't. Mike Tyson suffered an ulcer flare-up during a flight from Miami to Los Angeles, which forced a four-month delay. That move to November changed the entire vibe of the event. Instead of a summer blockbuster, it became a late-autumn spectacle that served as a massive stress test for Netflix’s live-streaming infrastructure.
When people asked what time is tyson and paul fight during that July window, the answer was "it’s not." Jake Paul ended up fighting Mike Perry on the original date instead, while Tyson focused on recovery. By the time November 15 rolled around, the anticipation had reached a fever pitch, but so had the technical concerns.
During the actual broadcast, Netflix struggled. Over 65 million concurrent households tuned in at the peak, leading to buffering issues and "low-res" video for a huge chunk of the audience. If you were one of the people screaming at your TV because the spinning wheel of death appeared right as Tyson was throwing a hook, you weren't alone.
The Rounds and Specific Rules
This wasn't a standard 12-round heavyweight championship fight. Not even close. Because of Tyson's age (58 at the time of the fight) and the specific requirements set by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the bout had unique parameters:
- Eight rounds total.
- Two-minute rounds instead of the standard three minutes.
- 14-ounce gloves, which provide more padding than the typical 10-ounce gloves used in heavyweight fights.
These rules were designed to keep the action fast but minimize the long-term physical toll on the veteran Tyson. The shorter rounds theoretically favored Tyson's explosive style, giving him more time to rest between bursts of energy. Jake Paul, being 31 years younger, had the cardio advantage, but the shorter duration meant he had less time to wear the legend down.
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What Happened When the Bell Finally Rang?
The atmosphere inside AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, was electric. You had 70,000+ people in the home of the Dallas Cowboys waiting to see if a 58-year-old could still summon the "Baddest Man on the Planet" persona.
Jake Paul entered first. He arrived in a custom Chevy Dually truck with his brother Logan Paul, accompanied by Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight." It was flashy, loud, and very "New Age Boxing."
Tyson, by contrast, kept it simple. He wore his classic black trunks—no socks, no frills. He walked out to "Murdergram" by Murder Inc., looking every bit the intimidating figure he was in the 80s.
Once the fight started at roughly 11:15 PM ET, the reality of the age gap set in quickly. Tyson looked sharp in the first two rounds, landing a few solid shots and moving his head with some of that old rhythm. But by round three, the gas tank was clearly hitting empty. Paul used his reach and youth to stay on the outside, peppering Tyson with jabs.
The fight ended in a unanimous decision for Jake Paul (80-72, 79-73, 79-73). In the final seconds of the eighth round, Paul actually stopped punching and bowed to Tyson—a rare moment of genuine respect in a sport usually defined by trash talk.
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Logistics for Future Netflix Sports Events
If you're planning to watch future combat sports on Netflix, the Tyson and Paul fight taught us a few things about how to prepare. Don't expect the main event to start on time. If the "start time" is listed as 8:00 PM, that is the beginning of the broadcast, not the fight you actually want to see.
Also, it's probably smart to hardwire your internet connection. Wi-Fi struggled to keep up with the massive traffic spikes during the ring walks. Netflix has since hinted at more live sports, but they'll need to beef up those servers before the next time a global icon steps into the square circle.
For anyone looking to catch a replay or see the specific highlights, the full event remains available on the Netflix platform. You can skip the three-hour wait and jump straight to the 11 PM ET mark to see the entrances.
To stay ahead of the curve for the next big matchup, make sure your streaming app is updated at least 24 hours before the bell. You should also check the local athletic commission's website—in this case, Texas—to see if there are any last-minute changes to the round lengths or glove weights, as these can drastically change the "what time" and "how long" of the entire evening.