The boxing world has been abuzz with speculation following Jake Paul's victory over 58-year-old Mike Tyson in their highly anticipated showdown. The event, which featured a fight that many believed would be a hard-hitting spectacle, has been tainted by accusations of a fixed result. These allegations have arisen from within the fight's undercard, further adding fuel to the controversy surrounding the main event.
Paul, a YouTuber-turned-boxer, cruised to a unanimous decision win against the legendary Tyson, with scorecards reading 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73 in his favor. Despite his dominance, Paul appeared to take his foot off the gas in the later rounds, opting not to pursue a knockout, which led some observers to question the integrity of the fight. This subdued performance, coupled with a lack of aggression from Paul, raised suspicions that the outcome may have been preordained for entertainment purposes.
Sara Bailey, the WBA world light flyweight champion who was cornering Canadian lightweight Lucas Bahdi on the undercard, did not mince words when asked about the fight's authenticity. She bluntly stated, "Yeah, it was fixed, I’m sorry," before adding, "I think he [Paul] took it easy." Bailey’s comments have only intensified the debate about the legitimacy of the fight, with many fans and analysts now wondering whether Tyson was allowed to survive the bout for dramatic effect.
Paul's Explanation for the Subdued Performance
Jake Paul’s post-fight comments further complicated matters. When asked if he had eased up on Tyson, Paul admitted, "Yeah, definitely a bit. I wanted to give the fans a show, but I didn’t want to hurt someone that didn’t need to be hurt. There was a point where he [Tyson] was not engaging back. I could just tell his age was showing a little bit. That violence war thing... that went away as the rounds went on."
Paul's admission that he intentionally pulled back during the fight led many to wonder whether the bout was more about spectacle than genuine competition. The fact that Tyson, despite his age, did not appear to offer a serious challenge in the later rounds raised further questions about the true nature of the contest. Paul, who is 31 years Tyson's junior, seemed to control the pace without ever seriously pushing for a knockout.
In the post-fight press conference, Paul also revealed that he had been struggling with a recent injury. "Two weeks ago, I sprained my ankle, completely tore the ligament, and like snapped the other side of my foot," he explained. "I was on crutches for four or five days, and it just hindered the end of my training camp. I don't know how it didn't get leaked or anything. I missed about two weeks of sparring, and that's why my cardio didn’t really feel so good tonight."
