In a highly anticipated event, legendary boxer Mike Tyson’s return to the ring ended in defeat as YouTuber Jake Paul secured a unanimous decision on Saturday.
Tyson, 58, struggled to connect punches against the younger and more agile Paul, resulting in wide scoring margins in the eight-round match at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. With Tyson returning to professional boxing after nearly two decades, the buildup to the fight generated considerable excitement, and Netflix was tasked with globally streaming the event live.
However, the event dubbed “Biggest Fail In History” saw Netflix experience a global outage during the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight, leading to widespread user frustration. Fans encountered multiple streaming issues, particularly during the main event, where Paul dominated with scores of 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73.
Despite his loss, Tyson reportedly received a $20 million payout for participating in the fight, his first officially sanctioned bout since his 2005 defeat to Kevin McBride.
The boxing community had previously expressed concerns about Tyson’s comeback, labelling the match a dangerous spectacle that risked the former heavyweight champion’s health. These concerns were amplified in May when the fight, originally scheduled for July, was postponed due to Tyson experiencing a medical incident on a flight, later attributed to an “ulcer flare-up.”
Nevertheless, Tyson dismissed these health worries, maintaining that jealousy fueled the criticism. He continued to attract significant attention years after his prime in the 1980s. During his entrance on Friday, Tyson aimed to channel his past dominance, donning his signature black trunks and poncho.
Despite his efforts to rekindle his former prowess, Paul maintained control throughout the fight, keeping Tyson at bay.
