Related Articles
-Editorial
Jake Paul, the YouTuber-turned-professional boxer, faced off against legendary former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in a highly anticipated professional boxing match. The event, held at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, was streamed globally on Netflix, drawing an unprecedented 65 million concurrent viewers. Paul emerged victorious via unanimous decision, but the bout generated widespread criticism and controversy before, during, and after the match.
Rumors of Netflix’s involvement in a Jake Paul boxing event began circulating in November 2023. By March 2024, Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions confirmed a fight between Paul and Tyson, initially scheduled for July 20. Tyson, at age 58, initially described the match as an exhibition, but Paul sought professional sanctioning. On April 29, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation approved the fight as a professional bout, with an adjusted ruleset: eight two-minute rounds, 14-ounce gloves, and no headgear.
“This is one of those situations where you lose but still win,” Tyson said. “I’m grateful for last night—no regrets about stepping into the ring one last time. In June, I almost died. I had eight blood transfusions, lost half my blood, and dropped 25 pounds in the hospital. I had to fight just to get healthy enough to fight, so in that sense, I already won. But to stand toe-to-toe for eight rounds with a talented fighter half my age, in front of my children and a packed Dallas Cowboys stadium—that’s an experience no man has the right to ask for.”
The event faced delays when Tyson suffered a medical setback in May. Jake Paul briefly sought a replacement opponent, calling out fellow YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI, who declined due to other commitments. Ultimately, the fight was rescheduled to November 15, setting the stage for one of the most unconventional boxing events in history.
In addition to Paul and Tyson, the event featured an undercard stacked with high-profile matchups. The long-awaited rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano for the lightweight championship titles served as the co-feature. Indian boxer Neeraj Goyat faced Brazilian internet star Whindersson Nunes, while Mario Barrios took on Abel Ramos for the WBC welterweight title. However, some originally scheduled bouts, including Darren Till vs. Julio César Chávez Jr., were scrapped due to prior changes in the lineup.
The fight began with dramatic entrances. Jake Paul walked out to Phil Collins’s “In the Air Tonight” in a custom Chevy Dually truck, accompanied by his brother, Logan Paul. Tyson, meanwhile, entered to Jay-Z’s “Murdergram.” The atmosphere electrified as the national anthem, performed by Tori Kelly, concluded.
The fight itself unfolded in a series of tense exchanges. Tyson charged aggressively in the early rounds, landing powerful punches that sent Paul on the defensive. As the fight progressed, however, Tyson showed signs of fatigue, while Paul capitalized on his opponent’s slower pace. By the final rounds, Paul’s jabs and calculated strikes dominated, securing his victory on the scorecards.
The lead-up to the fight was marred by a troubling incident at the weigh-in. Paul, in what many condemned as a racist gesture, imitated a knuckle-walking gorilla as he approached Tyson. This act drew outrage due to its historical context of dehumanizing African Americans. Tyson, visibly angered, slapped Paul in retaliation, later describing the incident as a deliberate provocation. “He stepped on my toes on purpose,” Tyson said, referencing his ongoing health issues. Critics called for accountability, accusing Paul of crossing ethical and cultural boundaries.
The 31-year age difference between the fighters—Tyson at 58 and Paul at 27—sparked heated debates. Former UFC champion Sean Strickland called the fight “illegal,” while KSI referred to it as “elderly abuse.” Nevertheless, Tyson dismissed concerns, stating he plans to continue fighting, even challenging Logan Paul after the match.
Adding to the event’s controversy were significant technical issues with Netflix’s live stream. Buffering problems and audio glitches plagued the broadcast, leaving thousands of viewers frustrated. According to DownDetector, over 90,000 viewers reported outages before the fight began. Interviews with prominent figures, including Evander Holyfield, were disrupted due to malfunctioning earpieces. Netflix faced backlash on social media, with users demanding refunds and improved streaming reliability.
The fight brought staggering earnings for the participants. Paul reportedly earned $40 million, while Tyson took home $20 million. Katie Taylor’s purse was estimated at $6.1 million, with Serrano claiming a higher but undisclosed amount. These figures underscored the commercial success of the event despite its controversies.
