Boxing fans believe they have spotted a moment that could indicate that Jake Paul’s victory against Mike Tyson was fixed.
Paul beat Tyson via unanimous decision at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, USA last weekend.
‘Iron Mike’ had given fans some hope as he came out of the blocks in the first round but soon ran out of steam by the end of the second round, allowing the ‘Problem Child’ to control the fight and eventually sail to victory.
Those who tuned in around the world were left with a bitter taste in their mouth after the fight as they watched one of the greatest heavyweights of all time struggle to keep up with someone 30 years younger than him.
Boxing fans have Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson theory
Jake Paul’s comprehensive win was something many had expected but it still didn’t stop fans around the world suggesting that there may have been some planning beforehand.
Paul was forced to play down claims that there had been a no knockout clause inserted into Tyson’s contract before the contest, however, one moment in the fight was highlighted as the moment that could prove the fight had been fixed.
A replay of Mike Tyson landing a rare shot on Paul saw the 27-year-old react by sticking his tongue out and taunting his opponent as if he hadn’t felt the wrath of the punch.
It’s something that Paul has done in many of his previous fights, but one post believed it was the former YouTuber ‘signalling’ to Tyson to tell him to take it easy.
The theory was largely disproved in the comments, with many people pointing out the age difference between the two fighters, whilst another acknowledged that the pair were wearing heavier gloves (14oz) than usual, which would’ve helped reduce the power of the punches.
Mike Tyson’s shocking stats compared to Jake Paul speak volumes
There were little to no expectations on what to expect from Tyson going into the fight, but as many predicted, it was a struggle.
Tyson admitted he was close to death earlier in the year so the fact he got through the eight rounds is something to be celebrated.
But from a boxing stand point alone, it won’t be one that makes any highlight reels.
The 58-year-old threw less than 100 punches in the fight, with only 18 of them landing. Paul in comparison landed 78 shots. 20 of those went to the body – more than Tyson had landed altogether.
He even landed 16 shots in a two-minute spell as it only becomes clearer just how dominant Paul was.
| Jake Paul | Mike Tyson | |
| Punches thrown | 278 | 97 |
| Punches landed | 78 | 18 |
| Percentage of punches landed | 28 per cent | 18 per cent |
After the fight, Paul revealed that he chose not to knock Tyson out, saying: “I wanted to give the fans a show, but I didn’t want [to hurt him]. I wanted to give the fans a show, but I didn’t want to hurt somebody that didn’t need to be hurt.”