Aged 58, heavyweight legend Mike Tyson was beaten by YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a professional exhibition-style fight Friday in Arlington.
Tyson, who had not fought professionally since 2005, and after a good start to the fight, was largely dominated by Paul, unanimously awarded the winner by the judges after 8 rounds of 2 minutes. “It’s such an honor, Mike Tyson is a legend, the greatest in history, he inspired me. It was very hard as expected”greeted Jake Paul. “I am happy, I have nothing to prove to anyone but myself, I was happy with what I was able to do”commented Tyson for his part.
Leggy and dangerous
After showing himself strong and dangerous for two rounds, Mike Tyson appeared weakened and was largely dominated by his young opponent who used his reach to hit him with his left jabs.
Tyson, boxing legend and youngest heavyweight world champion in 1986, had not boxed professionally since June 2005 and a defeat against Irishman Kevin McBride. He had to postpone the originally scheduled fight against Paul on July 20, after receiving medical treatment on May 26 on board a plane due to an ulcer.
Many observers, including former American boxing world champion Deontay Wilder, have expressed concern about seeing a nearly sixty-year-old lined up in a professional fight, saying they fear a serious injury. The fight, fought in front of more than 72,000 spectators, was adapted for this purpose, with 8 rounds of 2 minutes (instead of 12 rounds of 3 minutes) and slightly thicker gloves.
“Sale gosse”
Jake Paul, an American “dirty kid” who made his fortune thanks to his videos on social networks, aged 27, was not born during the splendor of “Iron Mike”, world heavyweight champion in 1986 when the internet did not exist. During his tumultuous career that began in 1985, Tyson had won 50 victories, including 44 by knockout, but has now suffered seven defeats, including two famous defeats against Evander Holyfield in 1996 and 1997.
Jake Paul, a controversial influencer with 20.8 million subscribers on YouTube, has transformed himself into a boxer but above all into a businessman, at the head of a promotion company, a venture capital fund, a sports betting site or even a brand of body care products. With now 11 successes and 1 defeat among the proshis good performance on Friday could make him want to challenge younger boxers.
