Mike Tyson’s much-debated return to boxing ended in a resounding defeat on Friday, as Jake Paul, the Youtuber-turned-prizefighter, dominated the 58-year-old heavyweight legend to win by unanimous decision at the AT&T Stadium in Texas.
The fight, which spanned eight rounds, saw Tyson struggle to keep pace with the younger and faster Paul. Judges scored the bout 80-72, 79-73, 79-73 in favor of the 27-year-old, who relied on his speed and movement to outclass the aging icon.
Paul had Tyson in trouble during the third round, landing a series of punches that visibly rocked the former heavyweight champion. However, the anticipated knockout that Paul had boldly promised during Thursday’s heated weigh-in—where Tyson slapped him—did not materialize.
Tyson, who stepped into the ring after years of retirement, managed to land only a few meaningful punches. Fight statistics revealed that Tyson connected with just 18 of 97 punches, while Paul threw 278 punches, landing 78 of them.
As the fight drew to a close, Paul demonstrated a gesture of respect, bowing to Tyson before the final bell. Despite his victory, Paul refrained from celebrating excessively, acknowledging the magnitude of sharing the ring with a boxing legend.
