Despite the judges awarding the victory to Jake Paul, Mike Tyson has taken to social media to assert that he ‘won’ in his own way.
On November 15, after numerous delays and much anticipation, the boxing match between YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul and former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson took place.
This peculiar matchup drew significant attention, especially since Tyson, who last fought professionally in 2005, is 31 years older than Paul. It intrigued a wide audience.
The fight was initially scheduled for July but had to be postponed due to Tyson suffering from an ulcer flare-up.
After eight 2-minute rounds, the judges declared Paul the winner. However, Tyson took to Twitter to express a different perspective on his triumph.
Tyson also revealed that he had nearly died a few months before the fight and expressed gratitude for his improved health.
On November 16, Tyson tweeted: “This is one of those situations when you lost but still won. I’m grateful for last night. No regrets to get in ring one last time.
“I almost died in June. Had 8 blood transfusions. Lost half my blood and 25lbs in hospital and had to fight to get healthy to fight so I won.
“To have my children see me stand toe to toe and finish 8 rounds with a talented fighter half my age in front of a packed Dallas Cowboy stadium is an experience that no man has the right to ask for. Thank you.”
Although Tyson hasn’t provided more details about his life-threatening situation, he previously made headlines in May for an incident on a flight from Miami to LA.
During the flight, airline staff asked if there was a doctor on board to assist with an emergency involving Tyson.
Once the plane landed in Los Angeles, paramedics boarded to provide medical attention to Tyson.
This incident led to the fight’s postponement until November, with Tyson’s team later confirming his recovery and readiness to compete.
However, some observers felt the fight could have been canceled, given the mixed reactions on social media.
Many viewers found the match underwhelming, despite the buildup and excitement surrounding it.
“I didn’t pay and I still want my money back,” one viewer commented on a YouTube highlight reel of the fight.
“Man I can’t believe I walked all the way to the living room for this s***,” another joked.
“Fight was so bad I want to press charges for money laundering,” a third viewer remarked.