In view of the highly anticipated bout between 27-year-old Jake Paul and 58-year-old Mike Tyson that took place on November 15, the former YouTube star defeated the one-time heavyweight champion of the world by unanimous decision.
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However, as has been the case in the past, there was controversy revolving around the fight possibly being rigged due to the seemingly lackluster performance on both sides.
Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions released a statement on Monday, denying all of the allegations stemming from his victory.
‼️ Statement from Jake Paul’s MVP firing back at claims that the Mike Tyson fight was rigged: “Suggesting anything other than full effort from these fighters is not only naive but an insult to the work they put into their craft and to the sport itself.” pic.twitter.com/xxh8ya3cJH
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) November 25, 2024
"Rigging a professional boxing match is a federal crime in the United States of America. Paul vs. Tyson was a professional match sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR). Both fighters in good faith performed to the best of their abilities with the goal of winning the fight."
In particular, there was talk regarding that Tyson was not allowed to use his famous uppercut during the fight. Considering this, former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin, who was in attendance at AT&T stadium, went on record saying he heard rumors of this being the case.
However, this was put to rest by Paul and his team.
"There were absolutely no restrictions - contractual or otherwise - around either fighter," MVP specified. "Each boxer was able to use his full arsenal to win the fight. Any agreement to the contrary would violate TDLR boxing rules."
Many fans described the event as a snooze fest, with Tyson landing 18 punches out of 97 and Paul connecting on 78 out of 278 punches.
Even so, MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian highlighted the success Paul has achieved and pointed out that he should be celebrated.
"This event, which broke attendance and viewership milestones for a professional sporting event, is yet another example of his ability to deliver on the biggest stage," Bidarian said. "As long as Jake continues to exceed expectations, there will always be those who try to discredit his achievements. We embrace the doubt—it only fuels Jake to work harder and achieve greater success."
All in all, it should be noted that even Paul himself said he didn't want to hurt Tyson, who is 31 years his senior.
‼️ Jake Paul confirms that he decided not to KO Mike Tyson during their fight: "I didn't wanna hurt someone that didn't need to be hurt."
[🎥 @MostVPromotions] pic.twitter.com/Ab4jDbCht7
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) November 16, 2024
"I wanted to give the fans a show, but I didn't want hurt someone who didn't need to be hurt," Paul said. "I didn't wanna hurt someone that didn't need to be hurt."
Ultimately, as the winner of the fight Paul received $40 million, while Tyson received $20 million.
Photo credit: Getty Images
