Boxing Anti-Climax as Jake Paul Outpoints Mike Tyson

The early hours of Saturday morning (UK time) witnessed one of the most anticipated fights of the century to date. An estimated 65 million of us tuned in to the first-ever combat sports event streamed live on Netflix as a sell-out crowd assembled at the AT&T Stadium in Texas.

Such numbers would ordinarily suggest a world title fight between two unbeaten behemoths of the sport. However, we now live in the era of style over substance where hype and social media clout trump all else. No, this was not a fight between two current greats of the boxing world, but rather, a bout between a YouTuber turned boxer and a 58-year-old former great who was perhaps three decades past his peak.

In the Blue Corner: Jake “El Gallo” Paul

Formerly utilising “The Problem Child” nickname, YouTube sensation Jake Paul has now opted for “El Gallo”, translated as “The Fighting Rooster”. The 27-year-old strutted into Texas with a fight record of 11 wins and one defeat from 12 bouts, with seven wins coming by knockout.

Pretty impressive on the face of it, but not so much when we consider that Paul’s previous opponents included two fellow YouTubers, a Basketball player, and five past-their-prime MMA fighters. To his credit, Paul had defeated two actual boxers, the highlight coming via his ESPN Ringside Award Knockout of the Year victory over Tyron Woodley. The sole defeat came when losing a points decision to Tommy Fury – a man more famous for his appearance on Love Island than his underwhelming professional boxing career.

In the Red Corner: “Iron” Mike Tyson

Jake Paul’s opponent (unlike Paul himself) was a genuine boxing legend. A world champion at 20, Tyson cut a swathe through the division with his ferocious punching power. Still the youngest-ever world heavyweight champion, he reigned as the undisputed king of the big men for three years. Following a spell behind bars, he returned to become only the sixth man to regain the heavyweight title, having lost it.

Tyson laced up the gloves ahead of this fight with a professional record of 58 fights and 50 wins, with 44 of those victories coming by way of knockout. Rather than social media stars and low-level/washed-out boxers and MMA fighters, Iron Mike’s CV includes wins over Larry Holmes, Michael Spinks, Frank Bruno, and Donovan “Razor” Ruddock.

If boxing calibre were the sole criterion, there could be only one winner. Except, of course, the most recent of Tyson’s professional fights came 19 years ago in 2005. 31 years older than Paul, Iron Mike’s place amongst the all-time greats is assured, but he headed into this fight nearer his pension than his prime.

The Fight Itself: Father Time Always Wins

Lest there be any doubt, this was a fight built on money-making potential rather than sporting merit. Nevertheless, that didn’t mean the two fighters couldn’t put on a good show. And they did. For approximately one round.

Showing a little of his famous head movement and dipping low at the waist, Tyson caught Paul with an early shot, but Jake responded in kind. Neither man was unduly troubled in the first, but at least we had some action.

As early as round two, the reality of what we were watching began to set in, i.e. a 27-year-old in the peak of fitness using youth to his advantage against a legend shorn of his pace, movement, and reflexes. From the waist up, Tyson belied his years a little. However, his legs told a different story. Pedestrian and unable to bridge the gap to his opponent, the diminishing number of punches Tyson threw were increasingly some way off the target.

The veteran managed a 10-second burst at the start of the third round but was soon put on his heels by a succession of left hooks, which, for a moment, looked to have him wobbled. With Paul easing off, Tyson made it through the round but was spending more time biting his glove than throwing punches.

And with that, any excitement drained from the fight. Rounds four through eight provided a repeat showing of an increasingly immobile Tyson loitering towards the centre of the ring as Paul circled and peppered him with sporadic jabs. By the end of the sixth, audible booing could be heard from those in attendance.

The dissatisfaction from the crowd had zero impact on the pace of the fight. Paul, to his credit, didn’t go out to hurt Tyson over the final two rounds, even bowing to his opponent on the bell in round eight, as this “Mega-Fight”, fizzled out into a damp squib.

When all was said and done, the overriding feeling was relief, as a clearly exhausted Tyson made it through eight rounds with no serious damage. As to the result, Paul predictably picked up a unanimous points decision, with the three ringside judges scoring the fight 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73 in his favour. Throughout the fight, Paul landed 78 of 278 punches compared to 18 of 97 for Tyson. It was not a bout that would live long in the memory.

But What Did We Expect?

In hindsight, this was surely never going to be a classic, despite what the out-of-control hype train would have us believe. The fact that Tyson requested the round length be shortened from three minutes to two should have told us all we needed to know about his likely fitness levels. Nevertheless, millions of us settled in front of the TV to take in the spectacle, and no doubt we will next time.

Labelled as “elderly abuse” by fellow YouTuber KSI, the event was perhaps best summed up by former World Champion Tony Bellew, who stated, “We are all to blame for this man! We are all talking and watching!”

Whilst we all talk and watch, Paul will continue to turn up in his gleaming silver shorts (created for this fight at a cost of $1 million). Hopefully, next time, the level of entertainment may be more in line with the hype.