The script was written and the legendary heavyweight boxer, Mike Tyson, lost his final battle. On November 15, Jake Paul—a social media icon—took on Iron Mike at 11 pm (eastern time) in AT&T stadium. Netflix broadcasted the event live to 108 million people globally.
Unified Terms
Due to this being such an unusually paired fight, the two established fight rules. First off, the fight would be a sanctioned pro match, so it will show up in the boxer’s official record, instead of just being an exhibition match, where the results don’t count towards records. Additionally, the fight would be just eight rounds, each one lasting two minutes. Both boxers wore 14-ounce gloves instead of the traditional 10-ounce ones. This was Tyson’s request as he told the press, “Well, you know, most of the gloves that are ten ounces – they don’t fit my hand properly. And the 14-ounce, they don’t fit that well either. But they’re comfortable enough.” The final section to their agreement included a knockout clause. Both fighters agreed that the fight could result in a knockout, meaning that one of the fighters is hit so hard they are unable to get up within ten seconds.
The Call out of Retirement
After nineteen years in retirement, with the exception of his 2020 exhibition match against Ray Jones Junior, Tyson agreed to re-enter the ring. The question of the hour: why would a fifty-nine year old (who was not in fighting shape) agree to fight a twenty-seven year old who has been performing at his peak? Monetary reasons were the most enticing appeals for Mike to agree to the fight. Tyson was set up to make close to twenty million dollars, regardless of if he won or not. Throughout his career Tyson has struggled with handling his money responsibly. Back in 2003 he declared bankruptcy and found himself twenty-three million dollars in debt. Although Tyson claims that he doesn’t need the money, it certainly couldn’t hurt.
The Problem Child
The fighters endured the full eight rounds without landing a knockout punch. At the end of the eighth round the judges came to a unanimous decision and Jake Paul was announced the winner. Tyson had a strong start winning the first two rounds, proving to the audience that he had retained his fighting instincts. Paul took the next six rounds showing that Tyson’s experience in the ring wasn’t able to hold up against Jake’s endurance, speed, and youth. When the final bell rang, Paul had delivered on 78 of his 278 punches whereas Mike struggled to land 18 out of his 97. Although Tyson lost the fight, he has achieved something no other boxer has. He got himself into fighting shape, and was able to go a full eight rounds with a boxer that is more than half his age. Both fighters were gracious of the opportunity to fight each other and Mike left the ring having lost the fight, but still having felt that he succeeded: “This is one of those situations when you lost but still won. I’m grateful for last night. No regrets getting in the ring one last time.”