Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul: YouTuber Beats Former World Heavyweight Champion Via Unanimous Decision | Boxing news

Jake Paul defeated Mike Tyson via unanimous decision in the former heavyweight champion’s first fight in 19 years.

The eight-round bout, which took place at AT&T Stadium in Texas and was streamed on Netflix, was scored 80-72, 79-73 and 79-73 in favor of the YouTuber-turned-boxer.

The opening round began with Paul, 27, using his youth advantage to repeatedly close the gap on 58-year-old Tyson, dropping jabs and quickly creating distance.

Tyson was able to catch Paul with a few heavy body shots before the two fighters clashed, prompting loud boos from the crowd.

The second round followed in similar fashion, with Paul doing his best to avoid Tyson’s famous heavy punches before striking again.

Round three began much more explosively, with Tyson coming out swinging before being met with a series of left hooks from Paul.

Building in confidence, the YouTuber continued to land heavy punches on a static Tyson, who looked grateful for the bell at the end of the round.

The two fighters missed jabs at the start of the fourth, but Tyson struggled to keep up with Paul, who was able to pick and drop his spots on the increasingly tired Tyson.

Paul landed a heavy one-two combination to kickstart the bout halfway through as Tyson did his best to use vertical movement to avoid Paul’s strikes, with the former heavyweight champion managing to land a stiff upperhand right to end the round.

Tyson stood his ground in the sixth and sent Paul reeling from every attempt, before the two exchanged powerful blows through the seventh, which ended with Tyson landing a headshot.

But the fight was all but over in the final round as Tyson took his time getting off the corner stool.

There was little of the famous power left in any of Tyson’s punches and the pair embraced as the bell rang.

Paul: I wouldn’t hurt aging Tyson

In his post-fight press conference, Paul admitted that he didn’t want to hurt Tyson, who was showing his age and just surviving in the ring.

“I wanted to give the fans a show, but I didn’t want to hurt anyone who didn’t need to be hurt,” Paul said.

“No, (I didn’t feel Mike’s power). I tried to give the best fight I possibly could, but when someone is just surviving in the ring, it’s hard to make it exciting.

“I couldn’t really get him to engage with me, take shots or do anything super cool. I don’t care what people say, they’re always going to have something to say, it is what it is.

“There was a time when he didn’t really engage, I didn’t know if he was tired. I could just tell his age was showing a little bit and I just have so much respect.

“That violence and war between us, after he beat me, I wanted to be aggressive, take him down and knock him out, but that went away as the rounds went on.”

Tyson refuses to rule out a return to the ring

After his first contest in 19 years, Tyson left the window open for future fights.

Asked if that was the last time he would be seen in a ring, Tyson said Netflix: “I don’t know. It depends on the situation. I don’t think so.”

When asked who a future opponent might be, Tyson pointed out Paul’s brother Logan in the crowd.

The former world heavyweight champion also said he was “absolutely pleased” with his performance.

“I knew (Paul) was a good fighter,” Tyson added. “I didn’t prove anything to anyone, only myself.

“I’m not one of those guys who goes out to please the world, I’m just happy with what I can do.”

“Tyson has the missiles, but no way to launch them”

Sky Sports’ Andy Scott:

“It was incredibly difficult to watch, painful at times.

“Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. It’s up for debate whether it should have fallen under the umbrella of a professional boxing match, I’m not so sure it should have.

“Serious questions need to be asked about the safety of boxers. I don’t think a 58-year-old man should have been allowed to step into that ring. Why was that allowed to happen?

“A few months ago we saw pictures of Tyson in a wheelchair and walking with a cane. He certainly didn’t have any legs under him during the fight.

“Tyson could knock me out and 90 percent of people even now if he had the legs. He still has the missiles, but he has no way to launch them.

“Jake Paul deserves some respect for supporting Mike Tyson towards the end when he could have pulled the trigger. He obviously could have tried to knock Tyson out and I’m glad he didn’t.”

Want more boxing? Watch Chris Billam-Smith’s World Championship unification with Gilberto Ramirez on Saturday live on Sky Sports Mix from Stream with NOW.