Jake Paul secured a unanimous decision victory over boxing legend Mike Tyson in an eight-round bout that left fans of Iron Mike disheartened. The fight, streamed live on Netflix, saw Paul outpace and outpunch the 57-year-old Tyson, whose age and the abbreviated round length were apparent factors in his defeat.
Tyson, known for his ferocity in the ring during his prime, struggled to mount a consistent offense against the 27-year-old Paul. Over the course of the fight, Tyson threw significantly fewer punches, often appearing winded and unable to keep up with Paul’s activity and movement. Many observers noted that the three-minute rounds of traditional boxing, instead of the two-minute rounds used in this fight, could have favored the older fighter, giving him more time to work strategically.
Fans who tuned in hoping to see a classic Tyson performance were left disappointed, with many questioning the legitimacy of the matchup. “This wasn’t the Mike Tyson we remember,” one fan lamented on social media. “He shouldn’t be in there fighting someone half his age.”
Adding to the frustration was Netflix’s mishandling of the event. Streaming and buffering issues plagued the platform throughout the undercard fights and the main event, leading to widespread complaints on social media. Many viewers expressed their disappointment, with one tweet summing it up: “Netflix was not ready for this. How do you botch something this big?”
Criticism also extended to the commentary team. The decision to include actress Rosie Perez, an Academy Award-nominated performer who hasn’t been in the public eye for decades, as a color commentator baffled many viewers. Perez’s lack of boxing expertise and awkward delivery drew widespread criticism, with fans questioning why a more seasoned commentator wasn’t chosen. “This is the worst commentary I’ve ever heard,” one viewer tweeted. “Why is Rosie Perez even here?”
The fight was a major letdown for Tyson’s loyal fanbase, who had hoped to see flashes of the fighter who once dominated the heavyweight division. Instead, they were left questioning why a legend was placed in such an uneven matchup. As for Jake Paul, the result raises familiar questions about his boxing career. Will he ever step into the ring with someone his age and experience level, or will he continue to fight opponents decades past their prime?
While Paul’s win adds another notch to his growing record, the event overall left fans feeling more frustrated than thrilled. From Tyson’s subdued performance to Netflix’s technical issues and the questionable commentary, the fight failed to live up to the hype, leaving many to wonder if this spectacle was worth the trouble.
