There's no end in sight to the Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson controversy
Jake Paul and Mike Tyson ‘banned’ from boxing after Controversial Netflix fight, but it won’t last long. The YouTuber-turned-boxer and former undisputed heavyweight champion received the minimum suspension period.
Chasing the Current
11/23/20243 min read
Jake Paul and Mike Tyson Handed Mandatory 24-Day Suspensions Following Texas Showdown
Jake Paul and Mike Tyson faced off in a highly anticipated bout on November 15 in Arlington, Texas. The 27-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer emerged victorious via unanimous decision against the 58-year-old boxing legend. The fight, held in the packed Dallas Cowboys stadium, saw Tyson struggle to land significant punches, with age and health challenges becoming apparent as the rounds progressed.
Ahead of the fight, Tyson revealed he had undergone a grueling preparation period after suffering a severe ulcer flare-up that led to eight blood transfusions. Despite these obstacles, he managed to last all eight two-minute rounds, an accomplishment he later described as deeply meaningful: "To have my children see me finish 8 rounds with a fighter half my age is an experience no man has the right to ask for. No regrets."
Under Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation rules, both fighters were handed mandatory 24-day medical suspensions due to the professional nature of the bout and its eight-round format. The ruling also impacted others on the card, including Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor, who were given 45-day suspensions after their own grueling match, with Taylor securing a controversial victory.
Criticism and Controversy
Paul, while celebrating his win, expressed disappointment in Tyson’s performance, stating, “I wish he had put up a better fight so I could have risen more and done more.” Paul also admitted to holding back as the fight progressed: "After seeing him tired, I didn’t want to hurt him too much, but I wanted the fans to have a good experience." Despite his dominant showing, Paul apologized to fans for not delivering on his pre-fight promise of a knockout.
Tyson, on the other hand, downplayed his performance but expressed gratitude for the opportunity to step into the ring one last time. "This is one of those situations where you lose but still win," he shared, emphasizing his pride in his effort despite the challenges.
Fans and critics have questioned the legitimacy of the fight, with some claiming Tyson intentionally held back. Sylvester Stallone, best known for portraying Rocky Balboa, fueled the debate with a controversial Instagram post. He described Tyson's performance as an "Oscar-winning act" and urged Paul to be grateful, suggesting the fight was more spectacle than sport. "Just to set my personal record straight. Business is business. SOMETIMES you have to do hard things and sacrifice for the sake of helping your FAMILY. I have known this unbelievable athlete since he’s 19 years old and what we saw was him giving one of the great Oscar winning performances of all time!!!! Please, Jake, be grateful, HE SPARED YOUR LIFE! Trust me. Keep punching Mike, there will never be a MAN like you, a GLADIATOR like you, and a SOUL like you! Keep punching champion of champions! I remember once I bumped into him and thought I was hit by [a] runaway BULLDOZER!!!" - Stallone wrote.
Looking Ahead
As the suspension keeps both fighters out of action in Texas for now, Paul remains confident in his boxing future, eyeing a potential run at the cruiserweight division. "I truly believe in my skills, my ability, and my power," he declared, hinting at a big fight within the next two years.
Meanwhile, Tyson’s future in boxing appears uncertain. Given his age and health, many speculate that this could indeed be his final bow in the ring. As he reflected on the fight and his career, Tyson summed up his feelings: “No regrets. Keep punching.”
Boxing fans wonder, amid all the controversy, speculation, and other things, if this is a farewell to a legend?
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