Why Tyson vs Paul was an extreme low point for boxing

Crossover boxing has become a trend over the last few years, with some of the biggest stars in the entertainment industry testing themselves in the boxing ring. Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson was set to be the biggest in crossover history.

It was supposed to be a bloody, engaging, well-fought boxing match with the potential to shock the world and cause untimely controversy, but the fight wasn't that.

After being built up as the 'Fight of the Century' by Netflix, Paul versus Tyson was a sad and forgettable eight rounds of boxing, which hurt the sport more than it helped.

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The 27-year-old Paul beat the 58-year-old Tyson by unanimous decision. Luckily for Tyson, the YouTuber turned boxer didn't knock the grandparent out, one of the extremes of fighting in a professional bout.

Over 72,000 people booed Paul after the bout, showcasing how fans worldwide felt about the 'Superfight' that showed Tyson's old age and lack of energy to make the fight any contest.

According to BBC Sport, Tyson threw 97 punches during the 16-minute fight, but only 18 landed, ultimately making the event a sparring match for Jake Paul.

The fight looked the same as Tyson's exhibition fight with Roy Jones Jr. in 2020, but that was an exhibition, and no one complained. Since this was a pro-fight with real risks involved, the Paul vs. Tyson fight was a complete waste of time.

Tyson tried his best to look explosive and dangerous in the opening two rounds, but after Paul rocked him with a combination in the third, Tyson looked on his way to being stopped rapidly.

Instead of knocking Tyson out, it appeared as though Paul felt sorry for Tyson and took his foot off the gas. The 'Problem Child' fought the rest of the fight at range, using his jab and refusing to come close to the aging boxing legend.

The rest of the fight left fans thinking: Was Paul scared to be caught by Tyson's infamous uppercut, or had they agreed beforehand that they wouldn't knock each other out?

According to MMA Fighting, Paul said: "yes, I definitely [took my foot off the gas], definitely a bit. I wanted to give the fans a show, but I didn't want to hurt someone who didn't need to be hurt."

"There was a point where I was just like, he's not really engaging back, and I don't know if he's tired or whatever. I could tell his age was showing a little bit."

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Fans tune in to combat sports to see fighters go at each other with ferocity and force. Anything else is a disservice to the fans who've paid to watch and to other fighters who lay their lives on the line for half the money that Jake Paul and Mike Tyson will receive.

The fight produced zero knockdowns, no two-way bits of action, and no attempted knockout blows, showing a poor light on the sport for potential new viewers who had never watched a boxing bout.

The divisive fight between Paul and Tyson did nothing to win over fellow boxers, with widespread criticism coming for the lackluster event. Former world champions Tony Bellew and Terence Crawford voiced their dissatisfaction.

Crawford wrote on X: "I love Mike Tyson, but they [are] giving him too much credit. He looked like trash. To train that long and only throw 97 punches in the whole fight was crazy. I'm just glad he didn't get hurt out there."

Bellew wrote: "We are all to blame for this man [Jake Paul]! We are all talking and watching. We have to stop this fool. Don't tune into him until he fights someone who is fit, healthy, and not a grandfather."

Jake Paul's ride to becoming one of the biggest prize fighters has been controversial and fun, successfully bridging the gap between sport and entertainment. However, the fight with Tyson was a step too far, making boxing look like a laughing stock rather than legitimate fighting.

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