Jake Paul, a popular YouTube content creator and professional boxer, faced boxing legend Mike Tyson on Nov. 15, 2024, in a highly anticipated boxing match at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Paul won the fight by unanimous decision after eight two-minute rounds.
Paul’s boxing career began in 2018, evolving from a YouTuber and influencer into a controversial yet relatively successful fighter. Known for his personal marketing and influential status, Paul has built a reputation for his dedication to training and ability to sell fights, drawing huge audiences.
Mike Tyson, or “Iron Mike,” is one of the most iconic figures in boxing. Born in 1966, he became the youngest heavyweight champion in history at the age of 20 in 1986. Known for his ferocious style and knockout power, Tyson dominated the heavyweight division, unifying the titles and becoming an undisputed champion.
Despite being 58 years old, Tyson demonstrated resilience, competing in his first professional fight since 2005. Tyson’s age also played a major role in the controversy surrounding the fight, as Jake Paul and Mike Tyson have a 19-year age gap.
Many students have intense opinions about the fight, while some view the fight as a spectacle with entertainment value and others question its authenticity and the participants’ motivations.
“Boring,” said Andrew Harrison, a junior accounting major. “I mean, the fight before was what the people actually wanted, and the Tyson and Paul fight was probably the most boring thing I’ve ever watched.”
One of the main speculations is on the legitimacy of the fight and whether it was staged or not. Elija Brush, a junior management information systems major, is one of the people suspecting Tyson and Paul staged the match.
“It felt like there were several moments when Mike Tyson could have gotten punches in, but he just didn’t,” Brush said.
Recently, celebrity fights have gained popularity, blending sports and entertainment. These matches typically feature influencers, actors or other entertainment figures stepping into the ring, but these are often not the same as regular boxing matches, as participants can adjust rules and regulations to their liking, with changes ranging from acceptable attacks to time adjustments.
“I think more celebrity fights could be interesting,” Harrison said. “But I think Jake Paul brought Tyson out of retirement to boost his ego. I think celebrity fights are fine, but Jake doesn’t even fight real boxers, and if he does, they have to be at least 20 years older.”
Streaming platform Netflix hosted the fight and is part of a culmination of a greater argument in the sports world. Many in the greater sports community argue that streaming platforms should not be able to stream sports. But others consider it more organized and accessible to a wider range of viewers, according to the stock exchange Nasdaq.
“Honestly, it’s becoming really annoying,” Brush said. “I just want everything to be on ESPN+ or something to make it easier.”
Streaming platforms’ venture into live sports broadcasting has transformed how audiences access sports, but not without controversy. Fans face rising costs as major platforms like Netflix secure exclusive rights, which fragments coverage across multiple subscriptions.
