Jake Paul has revealed that he decided not to knockout out Mike Tyson during his comprehensive victory over the former heavyweight champion.
The Youtuber-turned-boxer, 31 years Tyson’s junior, claimed a unanimous decision in front of a packed AT&T Stadium on Friday night.
Tyson was unable to match Paul’s energy and his condition worsened throughout the eight-round clash. Though, despite the veteran’s struggles it was curious to see Paul refrain from landing a decisive blow.
And in the last 10 seconds of the fight, he even stepped back and bowed towards Tyson in a show of respect to sporting royalty – while effectively taking his foot off the gas.
Following the victory, the 27-year-old revealed that it was conscious decision not to inflict any unnecessary pain on the 58-year-old who, in his view ‘didn’t need to be hurt.’
When asked whether he eased up after noticing Tyson tiring, Paul said: ‘Yeah definitely. Definitely a bit.
Jake Paul claimed a unanimous victory over former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson
Paul, 27, admitted that he took it easy on the veteran after realising that he was tiring
The YouTuber even bowed to his 58-year-old opponent in the latter stages of the fight
‘I wanted to give the fans a show but I didn’t want to hurt someone that didn’t need to be hurt.’
And speaking to Mail Sport after the fight, Jake’s brother Logan said of Tyson: ‘I think Jake let him live.’
He added: ‘He’s tough, proud of him, weathered the storm against a young brute named Jake Paul.’
The underwhelming spectacle drew a few boos at the finish, while many of the those who watched the clash online were left feeling empty by the sight of the veteran.
Tyson was only in action for 16 minutes on Friday. But to those watching him lumber around the ring with a brace on his right knee, it felt much longer. At one point, ‘he’s 58’ began trending on X in reference to Iron Mike’s age.
KSI, who fought Paul’s older brother Logan in 2019 and correctly predicted that the duel would not be a contest, labelled the event ‘elderly abuse’.
‘What a sad watch,’ he wrote on Instagram. ‘Whole of this was sad. Mike Tyson is twice the age of Jake Paul ffs. It was never EVER gonna be close. I can’t believe that this elderly abuse was even sanctioned. Just disgusting.’
Similarly, undisputed super welterweight champion Terence Crawford didn’t pull any punches when discussing the fight.
Tyson, 58, was unable to keep pace with his younger opponent and threw only 97 punches
KSI, who fought Paul’s brother Logan in 2019, described the fight in Texas as ‘elderly abuse’
Former WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew praised Paul for showing Tyson ‘respect and dignity’
The lack of a contest led to boos at the AT&T Stadium at the conclusion of the fight
The fight was a spectacle but Tyson showed his age in the ring against a rival 31 years his junior
Some fans questioned how the fight had been sanctioned given Tyson’s age
‘I love Mike Tyson, but they giving him too much credit,’ Crawford wrote on X.
‘He looked like trash, to train that long and only throw 97 punches the whole fight is crazy. I’m just glad he didn’t get hurt out there.’
Several other fans chimed in with criticism as one said: ‘ How the f*** did any commission pass Mike Tyson via medical for a sanctioned boxing match, this is sad. Jake Paul gets no glory in this. It’s a disgrace.’
Another added: ‘This is a sad, sad watch. A travesty for the sport of boxing,’ while a further fan said: ‘This is why boxing is a dead sport to me. 60-year-old Mike Tyson shouldn’t be fighting how did boxing commission allow this to happen shameful.’
Tyson did just about enough to make the first the only round he won.
Thereafter, the YouTuber kept doing enough to ensure his 11th victory in 12 fights but not sufficient to inflict serious damage on the boxing legend.
The veteran was competing in his first professional duel in almost two decades and it showed as he failed to keep pace with his much younger opponent.
The stats only confirmed what everyone already knew: Tyson landed just 18 of 97 punches, with only four of those shots connecting with Paul’s torso.
Some claimed Paul should not take an glory from his victory given Tyson’s condition
former WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew praised Paul for showing Tyson ‘respect’
Tyson had been competing in his first professional boxing fight in over 20 years against Paul
Paul arriving with his girlfriend Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam at the AT&T Stadium
Paul was seen celebrating with Leerdam after being handed a unanimous decision victory
Both Paul and Tyson have earned a significant pay day from the contest in Texas
While most viewers decried the display, former WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew praised Paul for showing Tyson ‘respect and dignity’.
‘I don’t like this stupid idiot kid but I will say this.’ The Liverpudlian wrote on X. ‘He stopped beating on Mike there and showed him some respect and dignity by letting him survive!
‘He didn’t go for the KO there he stepped off him and let him be.. Mike we all adore you king your a super hero to all of us from the proper fight business!’
During the fight, Bellew had also insisted Tyson was at a disadvantage as he suggested there was a difference in the gloves both men were using.
Ahead of the contest in Texas, both men agreed to series of rule changes.
Among them were shorter two-minute rounds and an eight-round total, but also that they would wear 14-ouch gloves. That’s a quarter-pound more than the common 10-ounce gloves.
According to Bellew, only one man was donning the correct gloves.
He tweeted: ‘The gloves Mike has on are looking heavily padded while Jake has on Grants which are full on punchers gloves! There is a huge difference in them gloves and I’m only watching from a bed!’
Piers Morgan was among those to come to the defence of Tyson following the fight
Piers Morgan called Mike Tyson an absolute legend despite the defeat
The broadcaster praised Tyson for having the heart of a lion for facing the youthful Paul
Despite the nature of his defeat, Tyson has suggested the contest might not be his last fight
The fight was streamed on Netflix and attended by thousands at the AT&T Stadium in Texas
Shaquille O’Neal (right) pictured with former WWE superstar Titus O’Neil before the bout
Super Bowl winner Rob Gronkowski (left) was also one of many star names at the fight
Logan Paul, the WWE superstar and brother of Jake Paul, pictured arriving at AT&T Stadium
Actor Simu Liu (right), pictured with Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria (left)
Broadcaster Piers Morgan also paid tribute to Tyson, hitting out at those mocking the heavyweight boxing legend.
In a post, he said: ‘Prime Mike Tyson would have destroyed Jake Paul in 90 seconds.
‘A 58-year-old Tyson went 8 rounds against a much fitter and very capable boxer half his age.
‘Mock him all you like, but Mike’s got the heart of a lion, b***s of steel and will always be an absolute legend.’
Despite the nature of Tyson’s defeat, the veteran fighter suggested by may still fight on again in the future.
The 58-year-old called out Paul’s brother Logan in the ring, suggesting he could take on the 29-year-old next.
‘I don’t think so,’ Tyson said, when asked if this was his final fight.
‘It depends on the situation.
‘I don’t think so, I don’t know, maybe I’ll fight his brother [Logan Paul].’
