Jake Paul Won the Paul V Tyson Fight (But Was It Rigged?)

As a lifelong boxing enthusiast who has seen my fair share of matches, I must say that the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight was a spectacle unlike any other. The build-up, the anticipation, and the sheer novelty of seeing Iron Mike back in the ring after all these years made it an event to remember.

Following three exhilarating bouts, one notably being a rematch, the much-anticipated main event unfolded between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson. Previous technical glitches during the initial matches had viewers on edge, but they held optimism as the main event commenced. From the get-go, Tyson displayed aggression, while Paul retaliated with strategic blows, gaining some advantage. The ensuing rounds were tough on Tyson, but he regained some ground in round 4. Regrettably, Tyson couldn’t maintain that higher gear for extended periods, only managing brief bursts. Despite his best efforts, Paul failed to KO Tyson as well, with both boxers making it through all 8 rounds.

In this contest, the discussion shifts towards whether it was a balanced match and if any manipulation occurred. However, determining fairness is tricky due to the significant age gap alone. During the bout, Paul landed 278 punches while Tyson managed only 97, with Paul connecting successfully on 78 occasions versus Tyson’s 19. This leads us to wonder if the outcome was pre-determined in favor of Paul. It might have been unintended, considering Tyson hadn’t fought for 20 years and was almost 60, but some may believe it was intentional or even suspicious. For now, let’s focus on the fight itself.

The Battle Begins

During the buildup of this highly anticipated match, Netflix showcased clips from both Paul’s and Tyson’s past battles, intensifying an already buzzing atmosphere. Jake “El Gallo” Paul, with a 10-win record including 7 KOs, was set to face off against Mike Tyson, known as the Baddest Man on the Planet, who boasted a 50-6 record with 44 KOs. The fight would consist of eight rounds, each lasting two minutes. Once the introductions were made, it was time for the action to begin.

In the initial phase of Round 1, Tyson moved forward aggressively, reducing the distance between them and landing some punches. Paul retaliated with a strong blow, followed by Tyson connecting with an overhand right. Tyson continued to advance, peppering Paul with jabs. However, Paul tried to halt Tyson’s momentum by clinching. Paul took a wide swing that missed, allowing Tyson to get in close and deliver rapid-fire shots. Paul struck Tyson on the side of the head with a punch, then threw a few jabs. But Tyson responded forcefully with an uppercut to the abdomen, which essentially ended the round.

[RELATED: Mike Tyson Goes Full Moon in Pre-Paul Fight Interview]

In Round 2, Tyson once more moved in closely, but was slightly slower to throw punches. Paul managed to land a body shot, and then Tyson retaliated with a blow to the head. Tyson unleashed two powerful blows to Paul’s midsection, causing him to separate. There was no exchange of punches for about a minute as they both tried to guess each other’s next moves, with Paul maintaining a safe distance. Tyson continued to evade and neither fighter landed significantly in Round 2.

In this third bout, Mike Tyson exhibited increased aggression, throwing more punches than in his last fight. However, Jake Paul landed a powerful three-punch combination, consisting of three left hooks, that momentarily wobbled Tyson. Further, Paul followed up with another left hook to the head and a body shot. Tyson seemed unable to defend himself effectively, as Paul continued to land strikes. Tyson appeared slower in this round, and Paul landed additional blows to his head. As the round neared its end, Tyson was still slightly unsteady on his feet, and fewer punches were exchanged.

In the fourth round, both fighters searched for openings, but there were few significant blows exchanged. At that moment, Paul was slightly ahead in terms of the number of punches he’d landed compared to Tyson. Paul displayed caution, darting out combinations occasionally, while Tyson focused more on defense and evading Paul’s major attacks. Paul managed to throw a left hook, but Tyson maintained a safe distance for most of the round.

In the fifth round, Paul adopted a more attacking strategy while Tyson maintained a defensive stance. Subsequently, Paul managed to land a few blows on Tyson, but then both fighters moved in closer. During this period, Tyson retaliated with swift, powerful punches. As the round neared its end, Paul attempted some heavy hits, but many missed their mark.

In the sixth round, events unfolded rather similarly, as Tyson adopted a defensive stance and prevented Paul from landing powerful punches. However, Paul managed to land one swift punch on Tyson’s head. Tyson skillfully evaded some of the subsequent combos that followed. Tyson attempted a combination of his own, but Paul deftly dodged it. Despite this, Tyson persisted with a few more strikes, yet he appeared significantly less energetic compared to round 1.

In the heat of Round 7, I upped my game against Paul, landing several hard-hitting blows and forcing him onto the backfoot. However, I wasn’t entirely immune to his counterattacks; he managed to tag me with a few body shots and some solid head strikes. Towards the end, Paul landed a potent two-punch combo squarely on my face, bringing the round to a close.

Round 8 started with Paul throwing some punches, but Tyson skillfully dodged them and took the hits. Paul displayed a high level of aggression, yet Tyson countered him with a powerful punch to the face. Paul continued targeting Tyson’s head and torso, but Tyson kept moving forward unscathed. As the round was nearing its end, Paul managed to land a blow, and just before the bell rang, Paul respectfully acknowledged Tyson by lowering his head. The fight concluded without either boxer being knocked out.

In the end, the verdict came out, and Jake Paul emerged victorious via a unanimous decision. He then congratulated Tyson and reveled in the ring, with Logan Paul joining him.

“What were your thoughts on the fight? Feel free to share them with me either on Threads, Twitter (@mattaguilarcb), or Bluesky (@knightofoa)!

2024-11-16 09:09

The Battle Begins

Read More