Mike Tyson and Jake Paul's boxing match has got people talking nearly a week after the event. The fight, which took place on July 19, 2024, at AT&T; Stadium in Arlington, Texas, was streamed live on Netflix - a first for the platform.
The event drew over 72,300 fans to the stadium, generating a gate of $18.1 million. This set a new US record for a combat sports event outside of Las Vegas. The global live viewership reached a staggering 108 million, making it the most-streamed sporting event ever.
Jake Paul came out on top with a unanimous decision win, putting on a dominant performance against a 58-year-old Tyson. 'Iron Mike' looked like a shadow of his former self, which isn't surprising given his age and the fact that his last fight was 19 years ago.
The co-main event between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano delivered a good fight and became the most-watched professional women's sports event in US history.
Post-fight, discussions have centered around whether the bout was scripted. Legendary trainer Robert Garcia shared his thoughts on the matter in a recent interview. He doesn't believe the fight was staged, but he understands why some might think so.
"I'm not saying it was staged, but he's 58. There's no way people could expect him to compete the way he was when he was young."
Garcia pointed out that Tyson's age and long absence from the ring played a big role in his performance. He thinks Paul likely carried Tyson through the rounds to avoid hurting him. Garcia compared watching the fight to viewing WWE, given the stark difference in the fighters' ages and conditions.
Former world heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs has also weighed in on the scripting debate, though his opinion wasn't provided.
The event's validity might be questioned by some fans, but its commercial success can't be denied. It broke viewership records and brought boxing to a new platform, potentially opening doors for future events on streaming services.
