Last night, the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, played host to one of the most highly-anticipated fights in the history of boxing.
With 72,000 fans piling into the stadium and an estimated 120 million watching on Netflix (or, at least, trying to), it was certainly a successful night in the world of boxing — despite the main event failing to live up to the hype.
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Yes, at 58 years old, although we can and should all respect Tyson for returning to the ring for his first professional fight in 19 years, the bout was slow, predictable, sluggish, and downright boring at moments.
Paul was declared the winner by a unanimous judge’s decision.
And it’s safe to say that the fight played out as many of us expected. Despite us wanting to see Tyson fight with the ferocity he displayed in the 90s and the speed and power that made him the youngest world champ in history, it looked like Father Time got to him before Paul did.
Yes, it was sadly a predictable bout. However, some may have expected a “predictable” fight for a different reason, afterΒ a so-called “leaked script” of the fight emerged on social mediaΒ prior to the bell ringing.
The bizarre one-page “script” was uploaded to X along with the caption: “Ain’t no way bro. The script got leaked! #PaulVsTyson Jake Paul gonna knock out Mike Tyson!”
Of course, with many people believing that more and more professional boxing bouts are being staged due to the rise of YouTubers and influencers in the sport, it wasn’t long before the round-by-round “script” went viral and was shared by news outlets.
But how did the viral “script” compare to what actually went down on the night? Well, like this…
Round 1
Script: “The opening bell rings and Tyson, showing flashes of his old form, immediately stalks forward with his signature bob-and-weave style. Paul maintains distance, circling the ring cautiously. Tyson lands a few jabs but Paul’s youth shows in his superior mobility. Paul connects with a quick one-two combination before retreating. Tyson’s timing appears slightly off, his punches a fraction slower than in his prime.”
What really happened: Mike Tyson came out aggressively, pushing Jake Paul towards the ropes early in the round. Despite Tyson’s pressure, Paul managed to slip away and land a significant overhand right, knocking Tyson back. Paul utilized his jab effectively and controlled the pace, appearing more comfortable of the two due to his youth. Verdict: Paul 10-9 Tyson
Round 2
Script: “Tyson comes alive, cutting off the ring more effectively. He lands a thunderous left hook to Paul’s body that draws a collective gasp from the crowd. Paul weathers the storm, using his reach advantage to pepper Tyson with long jabs. The younger fighter’s stamina becomes evident as he bounces on his toes, while Tyson’s breathing grows heavier.”
What really happened: Tyson attempted a quick combination and landed a solid right hook to the body midway through the round. However, Paul’s speed was evident as he managed to evade Tyson’s smothering attempts and control the engagement. The crowd cheered for Tyson, but Paul’s agility kept him out of reach. Verdict: Paul 10-9 Tyson (Overall: 20-18 Paul)
Round 3
Script: “Paul gains confidence, starting to plant his feet more. He lands a sharp right cross that momentarily stuns Tyson. The former champion responds with a vintage combination, but Paul slips most of it. The speed difference becomes more apparent as Paul begins finding his range with his jab. Tyson’s legendary head movement starts to slow.”
What really happened: Tyson charged aggressively at Paul right from the bell, but Paul deftly countered with a sharp left hook that seemed to shake Tyson. A subsequent one-two combination had Tyson unsteady again, showing Paul’s dominance in the ring while he cautiously respected Tyson’s knockout power. Verdict: Paul 10-9 Tyson (Overall: 30-27 Paul)
Round 4
Script: “Fatigue sets in for Tyson, though his punches still carry devastating power. Paul establishes his rhythm, landing increasingly clean shots. A particularly sharp right hand opens a cut above Tyson’s left eye. The old champion bulls forward, trying to close distance, but Paul’s footwork keeps him just out of range. The tide is turning.”
What really happened: Paul appeared to slow the fight’s pace, possibly sizing up Tyson and opting to take the bout the distance. He controlled the center of the ring, dictating the fight’s tempo and avoiding risks while maintaining a steady offensive output. Verdict: Paul 10-9 (Overall: 40-36 Paul)
Round 5
Script: “The decisive round. Paul, sensing Tyson’s fatigue, begins to press forward more aggressively. He lands a crisp three-punch combination that backs Tyson to the ropes. As Tyson tries to weave away, Paul times him perfectly with a devastating right hand that catches him flush on the chin. Tyson’s legs buckle and he drops to the canvas. The referee begins the count, but Tyson, despite his warrior’s heart, cannot beat the ten count.
“Winner: Jake Paul by KO, Round 5”
What really happened: By now, Paul increasingly relied on his jab, with Tyson seemingly on the defensive and struggling to mount significant offense. Paul continued to dictate the fight’s pace, landing clean shots without taking significant risks. Verdict: Paul 10-9 (Overall: 50-45 Paul)
Round 6
Of course, the so-called “script” declared that Paul would have won the bout by this point, but that wasn’t the case.
What really happened: This round highlighted Tyson’s diminishing offensive output, landing only a few punches. Paul, showing perhaps a touch of mercy, maintained enough activity to keep the bout competitive without overly exerting himself or endangering Tyson. Verdict: Paul 10-9 (Overall: 60-54 Paul)
Round 7
What really happened: Tyson showed a brief resurgence at the round’s start, throwing a powerful left hand. However, that was the extent of his offensive effort. Paul responded with a flurry in the last 20 seconds, connecting a series of punches to both head and body, clearly sealing another round in his favor. Verdict: Paul 10-9 (Overall: 70-63 Paul)
Round 8
What really happened: In the final round, Tyson attempted a last effort, throwing more punches than in previous rounds but lacking the power to trouble Paul. As the round and fight drew to a close, both fighters slowed, with Paul bowing in respect to Tyson, acknowledging the fight’s foregone conclusion. Tyson reciprocated by offering his glove. Verdict: Paul 10-9 (Overall: 80-72 Paul).
Following the announcement of Paul’s win, both men hugged in the ring.
So, this just goes to show, you really cannot believe everything you see on social media.
Sadly, despite this script clearly being proven to be total BS, there are still many viewers who are adamant that last night’s bout was staged from start to finish.
This really is a shame, given that Tyson deserves a lot of respect for even considering stepping back in the ring, especially against somebody 31 years his junior.