The controversial return of the boxing legend, Mike Tyson to the ring with Youtuber Jake Paul ended in defeat for the legend, with Paul winning by big margins on all three cards — 80-72, 79-73 and 79-73.
The eight-round bout which took place at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington was streamed live on Netflix and played out in front of a sold-out crowd that were disappointed Tyson’s less than expected effort, landing just 18 punches to Paul’s 78, who was honored to fight the legendary.
Speaking in his post-fight press conference, Paul admitted he didn’t want to hurt Tyson, who was showing his age and just surviving in the ring.
“First and foremost, Mike Tyson – it’s an honour to be able to fight him, It was as tough and hard as I thought it would be.” Paul revealed.
“I wanted to give the fans a show but I didn’t want to hurt someone that didn’t need to be hurt,” Paul said.
“No, [I didn’t feel Mike’s power]. I tried to give the best fight I possibly could, but when someone is just surviving in the ring, it’s hard to make it exciting.
“I couldn’t really get him to engage with me, slip shots, or do something super cool. I don’t care about what people say, they are always going have something to say, it is what it is.
“There was a point when he wasn’t really engaging back, I didn’t know if he was tired. I could just tell his age was showing a little bit, and I just have so much respect.
“That violence and war thing between us, after he slapped me, I wanted to be aggressive, take him down and knock him out, but that went away as the rounds went on.”
However, Tyson admitted after the contest to fighting through a leg injury. “Yeah, but I can’t use that as an excuse. If I did, I wouldn’t be in here.”
“I knew he was a good fighter. He was prepared. I came to fight. I didn’t prove nothing to anybody, only to myself. I’m not one of those guys that live to please the world. I’m just happy with what I can do.”
Asked if it was the last time he would be seen in a ring, Tyson told Netflix: “I don’t know. It depends on the situation. I don’t think so.”
When asked who a future opponent could be, Tyson pointed out Paul’s brother Logan in the crowd.
The former world heavyweight champion also said he was “absolutely happy” with his performance.
Tyson, one of the most fearsome heavyweight champions of all time during his heyday in the late 1980s and early 90s, was in his first professional fight in nearly 20 years. He was non-committal when asked if he would return to the ring again. “I don’t know. It depends on the situation,” he said.
Paul (11-1) said he can now fight anyone he wants, possibly even Mexican Canelo Alvarez, after being the main attraction in the mega event that brought out a star-studded crowd and some 72,300 fans to the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.
According to Sky Sports’ Andy Scott summation about the fight: “It was incredibly difficult to watch, painful at times.
“Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should. It’s up for debate whether that should have fallen under the umbrella of a professional boxing match, I’m not so sure it should have.
“Serious questions need to be asked about safeguarding of boxers. I don’t think a 58-year-old man should have been allowed to step into that ring. Why was that allowed to happen?
“A few months ago, we saw shots of Tyson in a wheelchair and walking with a cane. He certainly didn’t have any legs underneath him during the fight.
“Tyson could knock me and 90 per cent of people out even now, if he had the legs to do it. He’s still got the missiles, but he hasn’t got any way of launching them.
“Jake Paul deserves some respect for propping up Mike Tyson towards the end when he could have pulled the trigger. He obviously could have tried to knock Tyson out and I for one am pleased he didn’t.”
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