Boxing legend Mike Tyson’s long-anticipated return to the ring ended in disappointment on Friday night, as he suffered a decisive defeat to YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The 27-year-old Paul claimed victory via unanimous decision after a dominant performance across all eight rounds.
Tyson, now 58, struggled to find his rhythm throughout the bout, which featured two-minute rounds. His trademark power and agility were noticeably absent as Paul outmaneuvered the former undisputed heavyweight champion.
Judges scored the fight clearly in favor of Paul, with one scoring it 80-72 and the other two marking it 79-73.
From the opening bell, Tyson attempted to pressure Paul, landing a couple of quick punches in the early moments.
Tyson’s attacks lacked the precision and ferocity that once defined his career, allowing Paul to seize control.
Paul’s speed and footwork kept Tyson at bay. By the third round, Paul had Tyson in visible trouble.
Despite his performance, Paul was unable to deliver the knockout he had predicted during the heated pre-fight weigh-in, where an irritated Tyson slapped him across the face. Instead, Paul relied on his movement to wear down the veteran over the eight-round contest.
Tyson connected on just 18 of his 97 punches, while Paul threw 278 punches and landed 78 of them.
During the final seconds of the eighth round, Paul showed a surprising gesture of respect by bowing to Tyson before the bell.
Both fighters shared a warm embrace after the bout.
Paul praised Tyson as “the greatest ever to do it”.
Tyson commended Paul’s skills, stating, “He is a very good fighter. He absolutely deserves the respect.”
For Tyson, this marked his first sanctioned fight since retiring from professional boxing in 2005. The former champion expressed mixed feelings about the experience, leaving his future in the sport uncertain.
“It was a great opportunity to be back in the ring, but I don’t know if this is something I’d want to do again,” Tyson said when asked about another possible return.
