The fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul that took place on Friday, November 15 at the Arlington Arena in Texas, sparked widespread controversy among boxing fans, as many wondered if the fight had been staged in favor of Jake Paul, especially after videos surfaced on social media showing an unexpected performance from “the fiercest man on the planet.”
Mike Tyson, 58, returned to professional boxing for the first time since 2005 but his performance disappointed fans as he appeared to lack the ability to leave a clear mark in the fight.
The first round was marked by exciting moments for Mike Tyson, who managed to land some solid punches against his 27-year-old opponent. However, his performance dropped off noticeably in the following rounds, allowing Jake Paul, nicknamed “The Troublemaker,” to take control of the fight and claim a unanimous decision victory with scores of 80-72, 79-73, 79-73.
The performance led fans to wonder if there were hidden clauses in the fight contract that prevented Tyson from knocking out Jake Paul, in exchange for a $20 million prize.
Social media was awash with accusations that the fight was staged.
“That’s exactly when Mike said, ‘Oh I have to stop or I won’t get my money,’” wrote one user on X, formerly known as Twitter. “#staged #TysonPaul.”
Another added:
“A lot of comments are saying the fight was scripted. I agree, and I would add that Jake wrote the script himself.”
A third commented:
“It was all staged. Mike held his own throughout the entire fight.”
The fight was originally scheduled for July 20, but was postponed after Mike Tyson suffered a serious health scare on a flight, suffering a stomach ulcer. He was subsequently hospitalized and underwent treatment that resulted in him losing 25 pounds.
Tyson later revealed that he had nearly lost his life in June, after undergoing eight blood transfusions and losing half his blood. Tyson considered just being able to get back in the ring after such an ordeal a personal triumph.
“It’s one of those situations where you lost, but you still won,” Tyson wrote on X.
“I’m grateful for what happened last night. I don’t regret getting back in the ring one last time.”
“I almost died in June,” he added.
“I had eight blood transfusions, lost half my blood, lost 25 pounds in the hospital and had to fight to get healthy so I could come back. So I consider myself a winner.”
Tyson said he was happy his children got to watch him go the final eight rounds against a fighter half his age. He said just going toe-to-toe with Jake Paul in a packed Dallas Cowboy Stadium was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that no man could ask for more than that.
“Having my kids stand by my side and watch me take on a talented fighter half my age in a packed arena is an experience no one could ask for. Thank you,” he said .
The fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul was not only a sporting event, but an event that sparked a lot of controversy and questions. Between the accusations of planning and the health issues that Tyson had to go through before the fight, the legacy of “The Fiercest Man” remains preserved as one of the greatest boxers in history.
While the debate continues over whether the fight was staged or not, the fact that Tyson was able to return to the ring at this age after major health issues shows his willingness and desire to continue to impress, even in times of defeat.