Jake Paul and Mike Tyson are facing accusations that their Netflix fight was ‘fixed’ from professional boxers who were involved on the undercard.
Paul coasted to a unanimous victory over 58-year-old Tyson at the AT&T Stadium on Friday night, although boos were heard from unhappy fans inside the arena in the closing stages of the fight.
Seconds before the final bell, YouTube star turned boxer Paul stood back from Tyson and bowed in front of the two-time world heavyweight champion in a show of respect.
Paul also admitted in his post-fight press conference that he did not actively look to beat Tyson by knockout.
Asked if he took his foot off the gas, Paul replied: ‘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.’
Speaking after the fight, Sara Bailey, the women’s WBA world light flyweight champion who was in the corner of Lucas Bahdi, the Canadian lightweight who fought on the undercard of Paul vs Tyson on Friday night, has suggested that the main event was set up in order for Tyson to not take significant punishment from Paul, who is 31 years younger.
Asked for her thoughts on Paul’s win against Tyson, Bailey told ES NEWS: ‘Yeah, it was fixed, I’m sorry.’
Bahdi added: ‘I think he [Paul] took it easy.’
The claims will raise concerns for those who gambled on the fight, with bookmakers pricing Paul to beat Tyson by KO at 7/5.
However, Paul’s decision to ease off against a clearly fatigued Tyson was praised by boxing legend Andre Ward, who was an analyst for Netflix for the fight.
When asked if it felt like Paul was carrying Tyson in the ring, Ward told KO Artist Sports: ‘I don’t want to say that… it kind of seemed like that at times.
‘And to be honest with you, I appreciate that. I wasn’t going to be feeling that.
‘What’s the worst that’s going to happen [if you don’t knock Tyson out], you get a few boos? But you still honour and pay homage to an all-time great.’
Speaking on Tyson’s condition, Paul said after his win: ‘I tried to give the best fight I possibly could, but when someone’s just surviving in the ring, it’s hard to make it exciting.
‘I couldn’t really get him to engage me or slip shots and do something super cool or whatever.
‘I don’t care what people have to say. They’re always going to have something to say. It is what it is.’
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