Jake Paul outboxed Mike Tyson in a surprising fight last Friday night. The YouTube star-turned-boxer faced off against the former heavyweight champion at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in front of 72,300 fans.
Paul controlled the pace from the start and landed 78 punches to Tyson's 18 over eight rounds. The judges scored the bout 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73, all in Paul's favor.
"I'm here to make $40 million and knock out a legend," Paul said before the fight.
While he didn't get the knockout, Paul did earn an estimated $40 million for his efforts. His company, Most Valuable Promotions, partnered with Netflix to put on the event.
Tyson, now 58 years old, looked a shadow of his former self. The boxing legend, who became the youngest heavyweight champion at age 20, struggled to keep up with Paul's pace and precision. Tyson reportedly earned $20 million for the bout.
The fight marked Netflix's first live boxing event. The streaming giant offered the fight for free to boost its subscriber count. Netflix has been expanding into live sports content, recently signing a $5 billion deal to stream WWE's Monday Night Raw starting in 2025.
For Paul, the win proves he can compete with established boxing legends, or does it. The 27-year-old has come a long way from his YouTube roots, steadily improving his boxing skills with each fight.
Tyson, on the other hand, returned to the ring after a few years away. Despite his loss, his career highlights include unifying all three major heavyweight belts during his prime. Let's be honest, Mike was in it for money as he doesn't have anything to prove anymore.
The event's success might lead to more live sports content on Netflix in the future. For now, Jake Paul can celebrate a victory that many thought impossible just a few years ago.
