The highly anticipated return of Mike Tyson, “The Baddest Man on the Planet,” turned out to be more circus than classic, as Jake Paul secured a lopsided unanimous decision victory over the 58-year-old legend Friday night at AT&T Stadium. Tyson’s comeback after nearly two decades out of the professional boxing ring ended with the harsh reminder that Father Time remains undefeated, while Paul, the YouTuber-turned-prizefighter, walked away with another notch on his résumé.
The bout, Netflix’s first live sports broadcast, drew a packed house of celebrities and fans from all walks of life, but it quickly became clear that nostalgia would be the highlight of the evening. Tyson, a fan favorite and living icon, failed to mount any meaningful offense in the eight two-minute rounds. The judges’ scorecards of 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73 reflected Paul’s dominance, as the 27-year-old comfortably jabbed and circled his way to victory.
Hype Without Bite
The spectacle began with a pair of entrances that hinted at something legendary. Paul emerged in a garish green car, his brother Logan riding shotgun and a caged pigeon in the backseat—a jab at Tyson’s famed pigeon hobby and his role in The Hangover. Meanwhile, Tyson’s walkout to “Murdergram” by Ja Rule, Jay-Z, and DMX electrified the crowd, a brief flash of the menace that once sent shivers down opponents’ spines.
Yet, the excitement faded as soon as the opening bell rang. Tyson, wearing a knee brace and visibly slowed by age and inactivity, struggled to close the distance against Paul’s reach and youth. After an uneventful first round, Paul began to find his rhythm, landing consistent jabs and body shots that kept Tyson at bay.
By the third round, Tyson was visibly fatigued, reduced to stalking Paul around the ring with little success. Occasionally, the former heavyweight champion would lunge forward with a flurry, but those moments were fleeting. Tyson’s incessant glove-biting and lack of mobility underscored his diminished physicality, a far cry from the explosive power and ferocity that once defined him.
A Fight That Didn’t Deliver
While the fight was billed as a passing of the torch—or perhaps an outright mockery of one—it ultimately lacked the drama or danger to make it memorable. Tyson landed just 18 of his 97 punches, a woeful statistic for a fighter of his caliber, even at his advanced age. Meanwhile, Paul, who improved to 11-1 with 7 KOs, landed 78 of 278 punches, maintaining control throughout.
The biggest blow Tyson landed didn’t even happen in the ring. At Thursday’s weigh-in, Tyson slapped Paul after the younger fighter stepped on his foot during their staredown. That proved to be Tyson’s most significant act of aggression for the weekend.
Paul, who originally scheduled the fight for July but had to postpone due to Tyson’s ulcer flare-up, handled the event with the professionalism of a seasoned promoter. After a sixth-round TKO victory over former UFC fighter Mike Perry in the interim, Paul entered Friday’s bout confident and prepared.
A Missed Opportunity for Both Fighters
While Tyson’s return generated significant buzz, it ultimately proved to be more a nostalgia trip than a legitimate contest. Tyson, who last fought professionally in 2005 against Kevin McBride, had shown flashes of his old self in a 2020 exhibition against Roy Jones Jr. However, Friday’s bout made it clear that his days as a competitive fighter are long gone.
For Paul, the victory may add to his growing record, but it did little to silence critics who question his legitimacy as a boxer. Winning a one-sided decision over a nearly 60-year-old Tyson does little to further his case as a true contender.
A Spectacle, Not a Sport
Netflix’s foray into live sports paid off in terms of spectacle, drawing a star-studded crowd including Shaquille O’Neal, Evander Holyfield, Joe Jonas, and Charlize Theron. But for boxing purists, the event was a disappointment. The fight lacked tension, stakes, or any sense of competitiveness, leaving fans wondering what could have been had Tyson faced a more age-appropriate opponent or Paul taken on a younger, more seasoned fighter.
As the dust settles, one truth remains clear: Father Time is undefeated, and sometimes, even boxing’s greatest legends are better left in the past.
