If you tuned into Netflix on November 15, 2024, expecting to see "Iron" Mike Tyson return to his 1988 peak, you probably ended the night feeling a little confused. Maybe even a little annoyed. Between the buffering circles and the sight of a 58-year-old legend looking every bit his age, the night was... a lot.
So, let's get the big question out of the way first. Jake Paul won the fight. It wasn't a knockout. It wasn't particularly close. After eight rounds of two minutes each, the judges handed down a unanimous decision. The scores were 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73. Basically, Jake Paul dominated a man who was once the baddest on the planet but is now, well, a grandfather.
The Scorecards and How it Actually Went Down
Honestly, the first round had people leaning forward. Tyson came out with that old-school bob and weave. He landed a couple of decent shots. For a second, just a tiny second, you could almost believe the hype. But that energy evaporated faster than a drop of water on a Texas sidewalk in July.
By the third round, it was clear Tyson’s legs were gone. He was biting his gloves—a nervous habit he’s had for years—and just trying to keep his guard up. Jake Paul, who is 27 and roughly 31 years younger, didn't really "go for it." That’s what’s been bothering people.
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The Punch Stats (Compubox)
If you want to see the gap in numbers, look at what Compubox recorded. It’s pretty staggering:
- Jake Paul: Landed 78 of 278 punches (28%).
- Mike Tyson: Landed only 18 of 97 punches (18%).
Tyson barely threw 12 punches a round. In the fourth and sixth rounds, he reportedly landed zero. Not one. It was hard to watch if you grew up with a poster of Mike on your wall.
Why the Result Felt So Weird
There’s been a ton of talk about whether Jake Paul "let off the gas." In the final seconds of the eighth round, Paul literally stopped fighting and bowed to Tyson. It was a sign of respect, sure, but it also confirmed what most of us suspected: he wasn't trying to hurt the old man.
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"I wanted to give the fans a show, but I didn't want to hurt someone that didn't need to be hurt," Paul said after the match. It felt more like a high-level sparring session than a blood feud.
And let's talk about the platform. This was Netflix’s big debut into live sports, and they got hit with 65 million concurrent streams. The result? Glitches. Lots of them. People were more frustrated with the spinning "loading" icon than they were with Tyson's lack of head movement.
The Reality of the "Loss" for Tyson
Tyson doesn't seem to care about the official L on his record. He posted later on X that he "lost but still won." He revealed he almost died in June 2024 due to an ulcer flare-up, lost half his blood, and had to fight just to get healthy enough to enter the ring.
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To him, going eight rounds with a guy half his age was a victory of the spirit. To the fans who paid for tickets at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, it was a bit of a snooze fest. They were actually booing by the sixth round.
What This Means for Boxing
- The "Influencer" Era is Here: Love him or hate him, Jake Paul draws numbers. 108 million live global viewers is a figure most "real" boxers can only dream of.
- Safety vs. Spectacle: The Texas commission sanctioned this as a pro fight, but with 14-ounce gloves and short rounds. It was designed to keep Tyson safe, which it did.
- Retirement? Tyson actually hinted he might not be done. He even joked about fighting Jake’s brother, Logan Paul. Logan’s response? "I’d kill you, Mike."
What You Should Do Next
If you’re looking to get into boxing after this "circus," don’t let this fight be your only reference point. The undercard actually had a legendary fight between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano that was a total war. That’s where the real skill was on display.
Check out the replays of the Taylor-Serrano rematch if you want to see what championship boxing actually looks like. As for Jake Paul, he’s likely headed toward a fight with a "real" top-tier boxer soon—or at least someone who isn't eligible for a senior discount. Keep an eye on the cruiserweight rankings, because he's serious about a title shot within the next two years.