Jake Paul wore out a depleted Mike Tyson in their heavyweight fight on Friday, winning by decision.
The 27 year old YouTuber-turned-boxer (11-1, 7 knockouts) made the former heavyweight champion look every bit of his 58 years.
Tyson (50-7, 44 knockouts) appeared out of gas by the third round and oddly chewed on his glove during much of the Netflix-streamed fight at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
“I have a biting fixation,” Tyson explained, referring to his infamous moment of biting Evander Holyfield.
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Tyson was a shell of his old self but said he was “totally happy” with his performance.
Paul stayed active and at times made meaningful contact while being careful not to expose himself to Tyson’s punching power.
“I was trying to hurt him a little,” Paul said afterward. “I was scared he was gonna hurt me.”
But in the end Tyson was just too pooped to pop.
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Even if critics debated beforehand whether the sanctioned bout was “legitimate,” the two combatants steered boxing even further toward novelty mega-events.
Paul said he envisioned the bout against Tyson while tripping on ayahuasca.
Tyson hadn’t fought a sanctioned prize fight since quitting a bout with journeyman Kevin McBride in 2005. But the reported money ― $20 million for him and $40 million for Paul ― and perhaps a chance at midlife glory lured him back.
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Paul said he made a few concessions to the ex-champ’s age. The eight scheduled rounds were shortened to two minutes instead of the typical three, and the gloves weighed 14 ounces as opposed to the more conventional 10 ounces for heavyweights.
Tyson and Paul developed a relationship in the buildup to the fight, but Tyson warned Paul this week not to make the mistake of expecting goodwill in the ring.
Paul said on a podcast earlier this week that he is looking past Tyson to a potential bout with Mexican champion Canelo Álvarez, and this may have ticked off the once undisputed “baddest man on the planet.”
When Paul stepped on Tyson’s toe during the weigh-in on Thursday, that appeared to trigger him. Tyson whipped a slap across Paul’s cheek.
But he simply didn’t have the energy to back up his anger in the ring.
