JAKE PAUL beat a lumbering 58-year-old Mike Tyson in their underwhelming Netflix blockbuster – but fans were left “sad” as they booed the dull fight.
The youngster wore out the veteran to stroll to a comfortable victory and ensure he can forever say: I beat Iron Mike.
Tyson was the youngest heavyweight champion of the world aged just 20 all the way back in November 1986.
He then went on to become the undisputed king of the boxing division – a decade before his opponent for this incredible fight Paul was even born.
The 27-year-old – who calls himself the Problem Child – started out making videos online and working for the Disney channel before following his brother Logan in switching YouTube for the boxing ring.
A 58-year-old against someone young enough to be his son – the largest age difference in a legally-sanctioned professional boxing fight of all time.
One who had won 44 of his 50 professional wins by knockout – including some of the most memorable bouts of all time back in the 1980s and 1990s.
One whose last official fight came nearly 20 years ago in June 2005.
The other a social media influencer who had put the grind in to make his way in the sport, which he claims saved his life and now it was time for the night of his life.
The other who lost to Tommy Fury just last year.
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Make no mistake about it, this clash of eras, clash of egos and clash of entertainers could only happen because of the cash on offer for the Baddest Man on the Planet, one of the all-time boxing greats.
But after Tori Kelly performed the national anthem inside the packed-out AT&T Stadium in Texas, it was – finally – time for the talking to stop and for the long-awaited fight to, at lost last, take centre stage in front of a star-studded crowd.
Paul came to the ring first, driven in a customised green Chevvy car alongside his brother Logan, with a pigeon in a cage, as In The Air Tonight played over the speakers.
The youngster is an entertainer and was ready to shine – not just because he was dressed in silver shorts, gloves and a jacket totalling 360 diamonds and costing $1million.
For Tyson, it was a far simpler ring walk – an old-school black LFGO robe, black trunks, black gloves, a support on his right knee and a gentle solo stroll to face his foe.
No riff-raff, no unnecessary paraphernalia.
Tyson the boxer, here for business.
A quick briefing from the referee, a touch of the gloves and the ring emptied but for the two fighters and the man tasked with keeping the eight-round bout in order.
Paul says: “I love you, Mike” just before the bell and then runs away at the first opportunity.
It was a cowardly move – but a clever one to tire the veteran, who landed a couple of big early shots, out.
Within the first three rounds, Tyson was spent – allowing Paul to duck and weave with his 27-year-old energy.
The stagnant 58-year-old, though, was lumbering around the ring, could barely keep his gumshield in and had nothing to offer, completely shattered.
Just four punches were landed between them in the fifth round as the quality – or lack of quality – of the fifth was laid bare and proved many people’s fears and suspicions about the so-called fight.
Tyson showed a bit of life early in the seventh round – but early being the crucial word.
Within 20 seconds, he was blowing hard and still had 100 seconds to get to the bell vertical as Paul refused to take advantage and go for the KO.
By the end, Tyson had given up and the final bell could not come soon enough as the commentator brilliantly called it: “Father time is unbeaten for a reason.”
When it did come, they embraced, exchanged classy pleasantries but the result was not in question.
A unanimous decision that went 80-72, 79-73 and 79-73 with the three judges.
And for the thousands watching on Netflix around the world, they were just glad the farce was over and Tyson had walked away unscathed.
One said: “The saddest watch in boxing history.”
Another wrote: “Paul vs Tyson… I was expecting something more, but this felt like a waste.”
A third added: “Everybody lost. Paul. Tyson. Us. What a waste of time.”
And a final user responded: “This is boring. Embarrassing. Paul looks scared to p*** Tyson off. Tyson looks like a retired gym teacher. 2/10 would not recommend.”
