Mike Tyson‘s much-anticipated and controversial return to boxing ended in a one-sided defeat as Jake Paul cruised to a unanimous decision victory on Friday night in Texas.
The eight-round bout at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, which attracted a sold-out crowd of around 70,000 spectators and millions more watching globally, saw Paul, 27, outclass the 58-year-old Tyson with ease.
Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul Fight Highlights
Tyson, the former undisputed heavyweight champion, struggled throughout the fight, barely landing a meaningful punch. Paul’s superior speed and movement kept the aging Tyson at bay, and he was in trouble during the third round after a flurry of punches.
Despite the hype leading up to the bout, Paul failed to deliver the promised knockout, but still dominated the contest with scores of 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73 on all three judges’ cards. Tyson, on the other hand, connected with only 18 of his 97 punches while Paul landed 78 out of 278 thrown.

After the final bell, Paul showed respect to the boxing icon, bowing toward Tyson and saying, “First and foremost, Mike Tyson, it’s such an honor. He’s the greatest to ever do it. He’s a legend. I’m inspired by him and we wouldn’t be here today without him.”
Despite the lopsided loss, Tyson remained upbeat, saying, “I came to fight… I’m just happy with what I can do.” The 58-year-old praised Paul’s boxing ability, adding, “He’s a very good fighter,” though he left the door open for another return to the ring, stating, “I don’t think so” when asked if it was his last fight.

Tyson’s return, coming 19 years after his last sanctioned fight in 2005, had been met with skepticism, with critics fearing he could face injury in what was seen as a ‘circus’ spectacle. Tyson had been paid $20 million for the fight, which had been postponed after Tyson suffered a medical scare earlier in the year.
The fight’s legitimacy was questioned, but Tyson insisted he didn’t care about the critics, reflecting on his iconic career in the 1980s. However, Friday’s bout saw little of that former dominance as Paul easily maintained control throughout.