The long-anticipated clash between former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul took place on Friday, November 15. However, suspicions have been raised about the legitimacy of the fight, with some people pointing out supposed evidence of it being fixed.
This much-anticipated face-off happened at the AT&T Stadium in Texas and was broadcasted on Netflix, drawing significant attention from the boxing community.
Despite the buildup, the outcome left many fans feeling underwhelmed as 58-year-old Tyson lost to 27-year-old Paul by unanimous decision after the pair went through 8 rounds of 2 minutes each.
Many had hoped to see Tyson deliver a knockout punch, but it should be noted that he is 58. The commentators during the fight also remarked that ‘father time remains unbeaten,’ illustrating Tyson’s age affecting his performance.
Nonetheless, allegations arose suggesting the fight was orchestrated to give Paul a victory over the boxing icon.
Some observers have pointed out specific interactions during the match, suggesting they were signals from Paul to Tyson.
One instance involved Tyson landing a right-hand shot to Paul’s chin, which resulted in Paul stumbling back and provocatively sticking out his tongue at Tyson.
“Jake Paul signaling for Mike to take it easy,” a Twitter user commented while sharing a video of the moment.
Another user added: “bro could have knocked tf outta jake but he held it back.”
Some have dismissed this reading of the moment, suggesting instead that Paul was mocking Tyson, indicating that the punch lacked power.
One commenter stated: “He’s literally signaling that the weak punch did not affect him. This is commonly known as a ‘taunt’.”
Another person wrote: “Yall are tripping or huffing copium if yall really think mike was going easy on him.”
Further scrutiny was directed at another moment when Tyson delivered a strong left-handed jab, causing Paul to stumble.
One Twitter user said: “Tyson had to take his foot off the gas after he caught Jake with that jab.”
Another commented: “Mike landed this jab and then immediately thought of the 20M and held back.”
Additionally, someone argued: “Ridiculous event, one Tyson jab sent him stumbling round the ring, even at 58 if Tyson caught him fully, he’d have folded like a deck chair. Obviously scripted to ensure nobody got hurt and that Mike got his $20m.”
What are your thoughts on the fight?