ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Boxing legend, Mike Tyson’s highly anticipated return to the ring ended in disappointment as he suffered a lopsided defeat to YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Texas on Friday night.
The eight-round bout, held at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, saw the 58-year-old Tyson struggle against the younger, faster Paul, who secured a unanimous decision victory.
From the opening bell, 27-year-old Jake Paul took control of the fight, using his superior speed and agility to outmaneuver the ageing Tyson. Paul landed clean combinations, particularly in the third round, which had Tyson briefly in trouble.
Despite his dominance, Paul fell short of delivering the knockout he had confidently predicted during Thursday’s tense weigh-in, where Tyson had slapped him across the face. Instead, Paul settled for a convincing points victory, with scorecards reading 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73.
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Tyson, the former undisputed heavyweight champion, looked every bit his 58 years in the ring, landing only a handful of meaningful punches throughout the bout. Final punch stats revealed Tyson connected with just 18 of 97 punches thrown, while Paul landed 78 out of 278 punches.
By the time the eighth and final round rolled around, Tyson was visibly fatigued and unable to mount a comeback. As the seconds ticked away, Paul even bowed in respect to the boxing legend, signaling the fight’s conclusion.
Tyson’s return to the sport, after more than a decade away from professional boxing, had sparked mixed reactions among fans and critics. While some hailed his courage to step back into the ring, others questioned the legitimacy of the matchup against a significantly younger opponent.
Paul, now firmly established as a professional prizefighter, praised Tyson’s legacy in his post-fight interview.
“It’s an honor to share the ring with someone like Mike Tyson,” Paul said. “But tonight, it was my time to show the world what I can do.”
Tyson, though gracious in defeat, appeared reflective about his performance. “I came back for the love of the sport,” he said. “Jake fought well, and I gave it my all.”
AFP