Jake Paul and his team are tired of critics attempting to tear down his boxing accomplishments.
On Monday, Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions released a statement in response to online commenters claiming that his recent win over heavyweight boxing legend Mike Tyson was not legitimate. Various unfounded accusations have been lobbied at the contest, ranging from Paul and Tyson having a prearranged agreement to go the full eight rounds to the 58-year-old Tyson being forbidden to use certain techniques, such as his trademark uppercut.
Paul won a unanimous decision in a bout that was widely lambasted for its lack of action.
See the Most Valuable Promotions press release response below.
Following the wide circulation of incorrect and baseless claims that undermine the integrity of the Paul vs. Tyson event, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) would like to set the record straight regarding the contractual agreements and the nature of the fight.
Rigging a professional boxing match is a federal crime in the United States of America. Paul vs. Tyson was a professional match sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR). Both fighters in good faith performed to the best of their abilities with the goal of winning the fight. There were absolutely no restrictions – contractual or otherwise – around either fighter. Each boxer was able to use his full arsenal to win the fight. Any agreement to the contrary would violate TDLR boxing rules.
Trash talk and speculation are common in sports, and athletes and promoters need to tolerate nonsensical commentary, jokes and opinions. But suggesting anything other than full effort from these fighters is not only naïve but an insult to the work they put into their craft and to the sport itself.
It is further illogical and inane that MVP, in the debut of a hopeful long-term partnership with the world’s biggest streamer—an organization that made its first-ever foray into live professional sports with Paul vs. Tyson—would even so much as consider such a perverse violation of the rules of competition.
The Paul vs. Tyson bout took place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and aired live on Netflix. The streaming service has touted the massive success of the event, announcing a peak viewership of over 108 million.
Most Valuable Promotions co-founder Nakisa Bidarian is also quoted in Monday’s release, where he defends his longtime business partner Paul, who has frequently had to deal with criticism over his choice of boxing opponents (including several past-their-prime MMA stars) as well as accusations of fight fixing.
“This is not the first time Jake Paul has faced unfounded skepticism or outright disbelief as a professional athlete, and frankly, the claim that his bout must have been rigged is just the latest backhanded compliment to come his way,” Bidarian said. “From day one in this sport, people have doubted his abilities—unable to reconcile how someone with his background has accomplished so much in such a short time. Jake has not only proven himself repeatedly, but he has continuously set historic records that speak for themselves.
“This event, which broke attendance and viewership milestones for a professional sporting event, is yet another example of his ability to deliver on the biggest stage. As long as Jake continues to exceed expectations, there will always be those who try to discredit his achievements. We embrace the doubt—it only fuels Jake to work harder and achieve greater success.”
