On Friday, November 15, 2024, the legendary boxer “Iron” Mike Tyson, 58, made his return to the ring. Tyson faced off against popular YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The highly anticipated fight ended with Jake Paul’s victory by unanimous decision after eight rounds.
The judges, sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, scored the fight in favor of Paul with scores of 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73.
Despite his age, Mike Tyson displayed great courage and resilience, completing all eight rounds.
However, the younger 27-year-old fighter managed to dominate most of the rounds with accurate punches and better physical conditioning.
The bout, set for eight rounds of two minutes each, featured a unique aspect: both fighters used 14-ounce gloves instead of the usual 10-ounce gloves for heavyweight matches.
This decision was made as a precautionary measure due to Tyson’s advanced age, aimed at minimizing the risk of injury.
Despite the controversy surrounding the match, the fight between Tyson and Paul was a massive commercial success.
The event broke records in both ticket sales and streaming service views, becoming one of the most-watched boxing spectacles of the year.
The involvement of Tyson, an iconic figure in the sport, and Jake Paul’s popularity attracted millions of fans of all ages.
Following the loss, Mike Tyson took to his official “X” account (formerly known as Twitter) to address his followers.
Far from being disheartened, Tyson shared an emotional message of gratitude and reflection on his experience in the ring. The former heavyweight world champion revealed details about his health condition before the fight. In his message, Tyson also expressed his satisfaction at sharing this moment with his family.
“This is one of those situations when you lost but still won. I’m grateful for last night. No regrets to get in ring one last time.”
“I almost died in June. Had 8 blood transfusions. Lost half my blood and 25lbs in hospital and had to fight to get healthy to fight so I won.”
“To have my children see me stand toe to toe and finish 8 rounds with a talented fighter half my age in front of a packed Dallas Cowboy stadium is an experience that no man has the right to ask for. Thank you 🙏,” Tyson wrote on “X”.
Setting aside the criticism, many have praised Mike Tyson’s courage at 58 years old, both inside and outside the ring. Tyson’s fight against Jake Paul adds another chapter to the legacy of one of the sport’s greatest icons, showing that despite the years, his fighting spirit remains unbroken.
This is one of those situations when you lost but still won. I’m grateful for last night. No regrets to get in ring one last time.
I almost died in June. Had 8 blood transfusions. Lost half my blood and 25lbs in hospital and had to fight to get healthy to fight so I won.
To…
— Mike Tyson (@MikeTyson) November 16, 2024
Boxing Social is now on WhatsApp! Join our channel by clicking here and getting all the latest boxing news direct to your phone.