Jake Paul has disclosed that he intentionally refrained from knocking out Mike Tyson during their highly publicized boxing match, in which he secured a comprehensive victory over the former heavyweight champion. The 27-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer, who is 31 years younger than Tyson, won the bout by unanimous decision at a packed AT&T Stadium on Friday night.
Throughout the eight-round fight, Tyson struggled to keep up with Paul’s pace, and his physical condition deteriorated as the match progressed. Despite Tyson's evident difficulties, it was notable that Paul chose not to deliver a finishing blow. After the fight, Paul explained that his decision was rooted in compassion, stating that he felt Tyson "didn't need to be hurt."
When questioned about whether he eased off once he noticed Tyson tiring, Paul responded affirmatively, saying, "Yeah definitely. Definitely a bit. I wanted to give the fans a show but I didn't want to hurt someone that didn't need to be hurt." The two fighters shared an embrace after the match, with Tyson managing to last until the final bell. The judges scored the fight 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73 in favor of Paul.
The event sparked mixed reactions, with many fans expressing disappointment in Tyson's performance, which showcased the former champion as a mere shadow of his once-feared self. One fan lamented, "This is a sad, sad watch. A travesty for the sport of boxing." Others criticized the Texas Athletic Commission for allowing the fight to take place as a professional bout, questioning the ethics of pitting a 60-year-old Tyson against a much younger opponent. Comments such as, "This is why boxing is a dead sport to me," highlighted the frustrations among viewers.
The anticipation surrounding the fight was fueled by both curiosity and concern, as Tyson had fought only once professionally since 2005. The lackluster performance drew boos from the audience, and many online viewers felt disheartened by the sight of the aging legend struggling in the ring, especially as he moved awkwardly with a knee brace.
KSI, who previously fought Paul’s older brother Logan, referred to the event as "elderly abuse" on Instagram, expressing disbelief that such a match was sanctioned. He wrote, "Mike Tyson is twice the age of Jake Paul. It was never EVER gonna be close. I can't believe that this elderly abuse was even sanctioned. Just disgusting."
Undisputed super welterweight champion Terence Crawford also criticized the match, stating, "I love Mike Tyson, but they’re giving him too much credit. He looked like trash. To train that long and only throw 97 punches the whole fight is crazy. I'm just glad he didn't get hurt out there."
Tyson managed to win the first round but struggled to maintain his performance thereafter. Ultimately, Paul secured his 11th victory in 12 fights without inflicting serious damage on the boxing icon. The statistics reflected Tyson’s challenges, with only 18 of his 97 punches landing, and just four connecting with Paul’s torso.
While many viewers condemned the fight, former WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew commended Paul for showing "respect and dignity" towards Tyson. He wrote, "He stopped beating on Mike there and showed him some respect and dignity by letting him survive! Mike, we all adore you, king; you’re a superhero to all of us from the proper fight business!"
Zainab Y.
Also on site :
- Iran and US hold a fifth round of nuclear negotiations in Rome with enrichment a key issue
- Senna's final triumph in the streets of Monaco
- College Football Already Has the Perfect Playoff Blueprint: Just Copy the FCS