- Boxing. Jake Paul's time in the limelight after Mike Tyson bout could end with a startling ission
- Boxing. Terence Crawford kicks Mike Tyson when he's down after Jake Paul bout
The "fight of the century" between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson was a disappointment for fans expecting a bout for the ages between the former YouTube and Disney Channel snesation Paul and the former heavyweight champion Tyson. Though Tyson started well, Paul quickly gained the upper hand and won soundly, via unanimous decision, after eight two-minute rounds.
The significant age cap between combatants has been cited as the key factor in the bout's result; the 27-year-old Paul seemed to evade his opponent's jabs easily, and the 58-year-old Tyson landed only 97 blows over the eight rounds. For most boxers of Tyson's age -- and of Tyson's health -- that display would be commendable...but it left Jake and his brother Logan Paul feeling a bit cold.
Paul reveals his disappointment: Tyson was "surviving"
As they sat down to record the newest installment of the "ImPaulsive" podcast, Jake and Logan Paul discussed Friday's fight -- about which Jake expressed disappointment in the visibly-fatigued Tyson's approach in the ring at AT&T Stadium.
"I wish he would have put up a better fight so that I could have, like, risen more and done more," Jake said, 21 minutes into the latest episode of "ImPaulsive".
Back in May, Tyson suffered a medical emergency -- an ulcer flare-up that nearly cost Iron Mike his life. Tyson required eight blood transfusions to survive; he lost 25 pounds while convalescing in the hospital, and his viral training videos showed a determined fighter preparing as well as he could for the bout with a $20 million purse.
"(Tyson) was surviving," Jake said, disparagingly. "That was the only thing I didn't like."
While the Pauls clearly don't see much wrong with Jake's latest taunting comments, fan furor will only grow the longer Jake waits to fight "someone his own size". In his 12-fight boxing career, Jake has racked up 11 wins against only 1 defeat; he has overcome the 58-year-old Tyson and converted MMA fighter Mike Perry in his two most recent bouts, with many inside and outside the sport criticizing the Pauls and their entourage for only agreeing to bouts in which Jake would have an obvious advantage.
However, fans may get their wish to see Jake Paul in a truly-competitive environment if Canelo Alvarez were to accept his challenge and agree to a bout. Alvarez, the unified super middleweight title-holder, would be Jake's toughest opponent by some distance and would give boxing fans a better look at Jake's real skill level.