Youtuber Jake Paul defeats boxing legend Mike Tyson live on Netflix

Former world champion Mike Tyson suffered a defeat against Jake Paul, 31 years his junior, when he returned to the boxing ring. The judges’ decision for Paul was unanimous. For the now 58-year-old former heavyweight champion, it was the first official fight since 2005. The event, broadcast by the streaming provider Netflix and staged as a huge show, was recognized as an official fight. Paul became famous as an influencer and has only been pursuing a career as a boxer since 2020. He recorded his eleventh victory in the twelfth fight. 72,300 spectators watched the event at the Dallas Cowboys football stadium.

Tyson started the fight aggressively and landed more hits than his opponent in the first two rounds. In round three, however, Paul’s punches were more effective and he briefly caused Tyson to stumble. Afterwards, the younger of the two fighters was also the much more agile and had the action largely under control. Tyson’s defensive work was good, but he no longer attempted his own attacks. In the final seconds both stopped the fight and Paul bowed to Tyson.

In no other sport do exhibition fights occur as often as in boxing. These were the strangest duels in the ring:

Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor (2017)

In August 2017 there will be a duel in Las Vegas between Floyd Mayweather Jr., the best boxer of the past 15 years, and Connor McGregor, the strongest fighter in mixed martial arts at the time. The undefeated Mayweather Jr. has actually already retired, but is returning to the ring again for a purse of 300 million dollars. Before the fight, Mayweather called McGregor a “circus clown” and insulted the American in a racist way. In the ring, Mayweather defeated the cocky Irishman by technical knockout in the 10th round. It was worth it!

Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou (2023)

Francis Ngannou grew up in abject poverty in Cameroon. As a teenager, he worked in a sand mine for two francs a day, and after escaping to France, martial arts helped him escape homelessness. As of 2013, he became one of the most successful mixed martial arts athletes. In October 2023 he will challenge the then heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury in his first professional boxing match. The exhibition fight is marketed in Saudi Arabia as the “Battle of the Baddest”. Ngannou dominates Fury and sends the 125-pound colossus to the boards in the third round. The referees later declared Fury the winner on points anyway. The baddest!

Stefan Raab vs. Regina Halmich (2001, 2007, 2024)

Stefan Raab is the most successful German entertainer of recent times; from 1999 to 2015 he hosted his own late-night show “TV total”. In 2001 he duel in an exhibition match with the multiple German boxing world champion Regina Halmich. She beats up Raab and breaks his nose; In 2007 she also won the revenge. When Raab makes his comeback as a TV entertainer this year, the two will box against each other for the third time in September. The comedian is defeated again in Düsseldorf – a bad joke!

Mickey Rourke vs. Elliot Seymour (2014)

From 1991 to 1994, Hollywood actor Mickey Rourke fought eight fights as a professional boxer. In 2008, the American received an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of wrestling veteran Randy “The Ram” Robinson in the Darren Aronofsky film “The Wrestler.” In 2014, the then 62-year-old Rourke was hired for an exhibition fight in Moscow. He makes short work of the 29-year-old American Elliot Seymour. He says afterwards that he was paid to go down in the second round – but Rourke didn’t know anything about it. Well played!

Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield (1997)

Perhaps the most scandalous boxing match in history took place in Las Vegas in June 1997. The 30-year-old former world champion Mike Tyson, unnerved, fights against Evander Holyfield, four years his senior, who defeated him the year before. After an unpunished headbutt from Holyfield in the previous round, “Iron Mike” lost his nerve in the third round: he bit off a piece of his opponent’s right ear. Holyfield screams and points to his bleeding wound several times in disbelief, but the fight initially continues. The spectators are horrified and there are riots with injuries. The referee disqualified Tyson after the end of the third round – he received a professional ban and had to pay a $3 million fine. What a theater!

Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki (1976)

Boxing icon versus wrestling star – that was the duel in June 1976 in Tokyo. At that time, Ali, the heavyweight champion, got involved in an exhibition fight with the Japanese wrestler Antonio Inoki. Over a billion viewers worldwide watch the fight over fifteen rounds with special rules. Inoki kicks Ali while he’s lying on his back, injuring his shin; He only gave the Japanese six punches during the entire fight. The embarrassment ends in a draw. The spectators are so angry about the farce that they throw garbage into the ring and shout: “Okane no haibu!” – Money back!

With agency material