- Paul Secures Eleventh Career Win, Dominates Tyson in Front of 72,000 Fans
- Netflix’s First Live Boxing Event Faces Technical Glitches
Jake Paul overcame boxing legend Mike Tyson in an eight-round professional bout Friday night at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium, securing a decisive unanimous decision victory in front of 72,300 fans.
The YouTuber-turned-boxer outperformed Tyson with a commanding display, earning scores of 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73 from the judges. This victory marks Paul’s 11th professional win and his place as the sixth fighter to defeat Tyson, the former heavyweight champion, in a professional career spanning decades.
Speaking after the match, Paul expressed admiration for his opponent:
“First and foremost, Mike Tyson, it’s such an honor. He’s the G.O.A.T. I look up to him, I’m inspired by him, and we wouldn’t be here today without him. This man is an icon.”
Tyson’s Comeback Falls Short
Despite his legendary status, 58-year-old Tyson, who had not competed professionally in nearly two decades, showed flashes of his past dominance but struggled to maintain momentum. His third-round aggression briefly rocked Paul, but fatigue soon set in.
Roy Jones Jr., a fellow Hall of Famer and commentator for the fight, pointed out Tyson’s declining mobility:
“I don’t like Mike’s legs. I don’t like Mike’s legs at all.”
Paul capitalized on this weakness, using calculated jabs and combinations to take control in the later rounds. Tyson’s trademark explosive power and movement were notably absent as Paul maintained dominance until the final bell.
Asked if he felt he proved anything in the ring, Tyson humbly responded:
“I didn’t prove nothing to anybody, only to myself. I’m not one of those guys that looks to please the world. I’m just happy with what I can do.”
Paul’s Rapid Rise in Boxing
The victory represents a major milestone in Paul’s unconventional boxing career, which began as a YouTube venture in 2020. Since then, Paul has defeated several high-profile opponents, including MMA legends Anderson Silva and Nate Diaz.
Tyson, a household name for his devastating knockouts in the 1980s and 1990s, last won a professional bout in 2003 and retired from professional boxing the same year. His most recent exhibition was a draw against Jones Jr. in 2020.
Streaming Woes Mar Netflix’s Live Event Debut
Friday’s fight was Netflix’s first foray into live boxing, featuring a star-studded lineup of bouts. However, technical issues overshadowed the event, with thousands of viewers reporting buffering delays, frozen screens, and sound problems.
Platforms like DownDetector registered over 90,000 outage reports during the hour leading up to the main event. Fans flooded social media with complaints, sharing images of glitches and lamenting the platform’s inability to handle the traffic.
Paul acknowledged the scale of the event, stating:
“This is the biggest event. Over 120 million people on Netflix. We crashed the site.”
Netflix, which has yet to comment on the disruptions, is slated to host NFL games on Christmas Day and WWE’s Raw starting in 2025, signaling its broader move into live sports broadcasting.
Looking Ahead
With this landmark victory, Paul solidifies his position as a force in professional boxing while Tyson, despite his age and prolonged absence, remains a celebrated figure in the sport. As for Netflix, the platform faces growing scrutiny to deliver seamless live event experiences in its ambitious venture into sports entertainment.
