Mike Tyson and Jake Paul are set to be handed suspensions from boxing in the coming days following their controversial fight.
Paul won on a points decision in Texas on Friday night as the mega YouTuber failed to live up to his promises of knocking out the former undisputed heavyweight world champion. The eight-round bout at the AT&T Stadium, streamed live to millions around the world on Netflix, was scored 80-72, 79-73 and 79-73 in favour of the 28-year-old social media influencer.
The highly-anticipated fight underwhelmed many onlookers and boxing fans, with a laboured Tyson unable to keep up with Paul for much of the clash. Neither of them were hurt in the contest but as it was sanctioned as a professional event, both men will be ordered to rest by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the body overseeing the fight. The regulations state each fighter will be told to rest for three days for every round fought; meaning 24 days’ rest will be ordered for Paul and Tyson. Of course, neither Tyson nor Paul would be expected to fight within three weeks of Friday’s bout ending.
It was Tyson’s first fight in 19 years but, speaking after the contest, the 58-year-old left the window open for future fights.
Meanwhile, Paul used his post-fight comments to pay tribute to his opponent. “Mike Tyson, this is such an honour,” he said. “He’s the greatest to ever do it. He is an icon. It was an honour to fight him. He was exactly what I thought he would be.”