Jake Paul secured an easy unanimous decision victory over boxing legend Mike Tyson in a highly anticipated but disappointing fight on Friday night at AT&T Stadium in Texas.
Paul triumphed with scores of 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73, cruising through a one-sided contest that failed to live up to the excitement surrounding the event. Despite breaking records for the largest U.S. boxing gate outside of Las Vegas, the bout was largely underwhelming, as Tyson, 58, struggled to keep pace with Paul, who is 31 years younger and making his heavyweight debut.
Tyson, competing professionally for the first time in nearly 20 years, managed to land just 18 punches across eight two-minute rounds, while Paul connected with 78. The lack of action left many fans disappointed, with some even booing during and after the fight. Paul’s reluctance to finish the match with a knockout, despite promising one, added to the frustration, as he appeared hesitant to fully take advantage of Tyson’s poor performance.
Tyson, who had made headlines at Thursday’s weigh-in by slapping Paul after accusing him of stepping on his foot during their final face-off, started the fight aggressively. However, it quickly became evident that his age and physical condition were a hindrance. Sporting a knee brace and showing signs of fatigue, Tyson’s limited movement allowed Paul to dominate the ring. The fight’s lackluster action only fueled the critics’ arguments that this matchup should never have been sanctioned.
