The Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight on Friday in Arlington, Texas, ended in disappointment for anyone who stayed up to watch.
Netflix aired the fight but struggled with technical issues. The company said that those were caused by the large viewership, which was estimated at more than 65 million.
The live broadcast was plagued by long glitches, and millions of viewers were unable to stream the fight due to technological issues. Considering it is a billion-dollar corporation, Netflix should have prepared better for such a highly anticipated event.
The co-main event featured a super lightweight rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, which many people found more entertaining than the main event.
Tyson started the first round relatively well, throwing strong hooks, but wasn’t able to match Paul’s aggressiveness. The following rounds continued to shock viewers, as Tyson struggled to match Paul’s rhythm.
Tyson kept being driven into corners by Paul, which came off as surprising to many considering Tyson’s typical approach. In previous fights, Tyson has had enough power to force his opponents into corners and steer them around the ring at his will.
The lack of Tyson’s energy could be due to his old age and health issues, but the question as to why he agreed to be back in the ring at such an old age is a mystery. Obviously, one answer would be the supposed $20 million dollar paycheck.
Training videos of both Tyson and Paul were released prior to the match, bringing anticipation to the fight. Tyson appeared to be in prime condition, which didn’t match his performance in the ring.
Paul, meanwhile, has a history of fighting famous athletes in high-interest matches. As a former Disney Channel star and YouTuber, Paul’s interest in boxing brought speculation.
Many people feel cheated by the fight. As rumors of the fight being rigged circulated, one thing remained clear: People stayed to watch the entirety of the fight, bringing in a large revenue for both fighters.
Regardless of the results, both fighters gained popularity, and Tyson is still considered one of the best fighters to ever enter the ring.
