In what can only be described as the crossover nobody expected — but everybody watched — Jake Paul beat Mike Tyson by unanimous decision Friday night in what is being described as a historic fight.
Held at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas in front of 70,000 fans and live-streamed on Netflix, the fight proved that all you need to break the internet is an ageing legend, a YouTuber, and a marketing team willing to sell it like the Super Bowl of midlife crises.
Because let’s be real — this was less of a Rocky Balboa comeback story and more of a time machine mishap where someone accidentally pitted a TikToker against a gladiator from ancient Rome. Yet somehow, the TikToker won.
The build-up before the bell
Like a true circus, Tyson, with the swagger of a man who’s been here before, slapped Paul in the face, an act that many fans agreed was worth the $79.99 pay-per-view price alone. X exploded with memes ranging from “Mike warming up those ancient reflexes” to “Jake Paul learning why they called him ‘Iron Mike.’”
Eight rounds of sparring
The fight itself had moments of tension, comedy, and yes, a sprinkle of sadness. Tyson’s flex was still there in flashes, but by round three, commentators began comparing the fighters’ agility. By round seven, even the broadcasters began to see that Tyson had aged and was no longer the man who once made grown men crumble with a single uppercut.
As the final round concluded, Paul, ever the showman, bowed to Tyson. “Father Time remains unbeaten,” quipped the announcers, as the judges handed Paul a victory with a score of 73-68.
The internet, as always, turned the spectacle into comedy gold.
Memes deliver a knockout
Jokes were made about Netflix’s streaming capabilities
Jake Paul flexed after beating a veteran (read, senior citizen)
Tyson’s legacy may never recover
A fake fight?
This was Tyson’s first professional fight since 2005. At 58, stepping into the ring at all is a victory in itself and sure, Paul came out on top, but let’s not forget that this man once held the heavyweight belt while Paul was still learning his ABCs.
Fans may argue about whether this fight was a cash grab, a legitimate competition, or performance art but one thing’s for sure — it entertained, infuriated, and left us all laughing.
What’s next for Paul? Well, the internet assumes he’s probably on the hunt for his next senior citizen opponent — perhaps 81-year-old Joe Biden?
