Jake Paul defeats Mike Tyson: Fight results, highlights, analysis

ARLINGTON, Texas — One of the wildest spectacles in recent sports history came to an end Friday night.
Jake Paul beat Mike Tyson by unanimous decision in a fight livestreamed by Netflix and held in front of more than 70,000 spectators at AT&T Stadium.
The heavyweight boxing matchup followed a sometimes zany build-up to an unlikely bout: the 58-year-old former world heavyweight champion against the 27-year-old social media sensation. At the weigh-in Thursday, for example, Tyson slapped Paul in the face.
Paul entered the fight as the betting favorite, but it’s unlikely anyone will cash in like the two boxers will. Paul is expected to make $40 million and Tyson is expected to make $20 million.
It was Tyson’s first pro fight since 2005, and his career record falls to 50-7.
It was Paul’s biggest moment in a boxing career that started less than five years ago. He improved his career record to 11-1.
Follow along with USA TODAY Sports for all the developments from the undercard, to the walk-ins to the Tyson-Paul finale:
ARLINGTON, Texas — You didn’t really think he was going to do it, did you?
Most of you out there who were rooting for Mike Tyson to knock out Jake Paul on Friday night in the boxing match of this weird, substance-free decade were probably doing so for one of two reasons.
The first is that you find Paul obnoxious and wanted to see Tyson inflict pain on the YouTube star, which is a perfectly reasonable conclusion. 
The second is that a part of you, like me, always yearns to feel whatever you felt back in the late 1980s, when Tyson was the baddest man on the planet. This is not reasonable. If you are old enough to remember where you were when Tyson knocked out Michael Spinks in 91 seconds, then you most likely woke up this morning with a stiff back or a sore knee and a reminder to schedule your colonoscopy. Read Dan Wolkens column.
Mike Tyson was slow to get up from his corner, stagnant in the center of the ring, and unable to get in close on Jake Paul. But many viewers noticed a familiar sight with the former heavyweight champion – him gnawing on his glove.
While this could be a maneuver Tyson does to keep his mouthguard tight, Tyson’s answer to Ariel Helwani’s question after the match is much more fun: “I have a biting fixation”.
Of course, this is in reference to when Tyson infamously bit Evander Holyfield’s ear during their second bout in 1997. Everyone laughed; Holyfield probably cringed. — Jon Hoefling
Round 8: Paul jabs Tyson into another solar system. Tyson can’t dodge. The reality of age settling in as the fight ends. Paul shows Tyson respect by bowing to him in the final seconds of the fight. We now go to Father Time for comment who says: I’m still unbeaten. Paul 73, Tyson 68
Round 7: The question is: Why isn’t Paul taking advantage of Tyson’s sluggishness? Who knows. The broadcast crew expresses something you have rarely heard for Tyson: sympathy. They feel sorry for Tyson. Tyson breathing heavily. Paul 63, Tyson 59
Round 6: Roy Jones Jr. says: “I think that’s all we’re going to see from Mike.” That feeling is strong. Tyson looks plodding and slow. The boos come again, except louder. Let’s just be clear about this. This fight is boring as hell. Paul 53, Tyson 50
Round 5: Paul targets Tyson’s chin. He isn’t hitting it but it seems only a matter of time. However, Paul keeps his hands low, something that used to be a mortal sin back in the day. Way back in the day. Pleistocene era. Paul 43, Tyson 41
Round 4: Paul is extremely active. He looks comfortable, like this is a sparring match. Tyson takes a body shot. Paul left hook lands. Not much action otherwise. Small cascade of boos rings across the stadium. Paul 33, Tyson 32
Round 3: Tyson gets hit and starts to take some bad shots. He stumbles after a Paul shot. He looks out of it. His age clearly starts to show. He’s in big trouble. Paul looks so much faster, the difference between a starship and a shuttlecraft. Paul 25, Tyson 24
Round 2: The fighters hold in the center. Still doing some measuring. Analyst Roy Jones Jr. says he “doesn’t like Tyson’s legs.” Not sure what that means though Tyson is wearing a brace on his right knee. More measuring and patience. No fighter steps up. Compared to some other fights on the night, this one is boring so far. Tyson 17, Paul 16
Round 1: Tyson went to the center of the ring fast. Just like in the olden days. When dinosaurs ruled the planet. He lands an overhand right. Paul makes Tyson chase him around the ring. Smart move. Trying to wear out the 58-year-old fighter. Paul lands a right. Tyson throws a low shot. Tyson catches a hard right. We’re off. Tyson 9, Paul 8
Mike Tyson (50-6-2, 44 KOs) and Jake Paul (10-1, 7 KOs) finally are in the ring and the most anticipated fight in probably a decade is set to begin.
Former undisputed world heavyweight Mike Tyson has given fans dozens of electrifying walk-outs throughout his career and his return to the boxing ring was no different Friday.
Tyson sent a message to YouTube star-turned-boxer Jake Paul with his pre-fight soundtrack, Jay-Z’s “Murdergram,” as he walked out to the ring at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Despite being 58-years-old, Tyson still has an intimidating presence, highlighted by his quick saunter to the ring. Tyson made his walk to the ring solo and wasn’t accompanied by a large entourage. — Cydney Henderson
The ring walk (or ride in this instance) from Jake Paul did not disappoint. He walked out to the applause of the crowd as he normally does, swagged out to the max, rocking diamonds and other lavish jewels from head to toe. Paul looked like a million bucks, mainly because that’s exactly what he was wearing.
Paul and his crew, including brother Logan, came out to the song “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins, the same song that Tyson jammed out to in the original “The Hangover” film. Perhaps this was a subtle jab at Tyson, one last taunt before the fight starts. — Jon Hoefling
Grammy Award-winning songstress Tori Kelly sang the national anthem ahead of the bout between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul on Friday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Kelly, 31, initially made the announcement on Instagram, alongside Netflix, which is broadcasting the live event between Tyson and Paul. Kelly shared behind-the-scenes footage of her rehearsing the anthem inside the boxing ring.
Performing the national anthem at sporting events is nothing new for Kelly. She previously sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers’ opening night matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers in 2019. She also sang the anthem at the 2021 Kentucky Derby and ahead of a “Sunday Night Football” matchup between the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers in January 2022. — Cydney Henderson
Friday
The main card for the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight starts at 8 p.m. ET. Tyson and Paul are expected to make their way to the ring at about 11 p.m. ET.
AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas.
Netflix. A subscription is required. Monthly subscriptions start at $6.99.
During a prefight interview with Netflix’s Ariel Helwani, Jake Paul said he was glad Mike Tyson slapped him, because that “made it personal.”
“I’m so happy he did that. You know, this makes it real,” Paul said. “When I beat his (expletive) in a couple of moments here, no one can say anything. People want to see me fail. They want to see me lose. They want to see me get knocked out. And then they’re going to make excuses for Mike Tyson when he’s the one that does that? But now they can’t. It’s personal. And I don’t care if we were friends before, but this is serious now and I’m knocking him the (expletive) out.” — Jon Hoefling
The streaming service – broadcasting it’s first live fight – is having its problems with viewers complaining about buffering issues and some miscommunication with the host. Netflix has experienced problems like this in the past.
USA TODAY Sports has reached out to Netflix, but the platform declined to comment.
As the night has progressed, the screen quality has been brought up as an issue for some watching the fight at home.
Evander Holyfield’s earpiece was not working during his interview and Lennox Lewis had to relay questions to him. When Jerry Jones joined the panel, his microphone failed to work and former Cowboys player Michael Irvin had to lend him his microphone. And after an interview in the locker room, the camera followed Mike Tyson as he turned away from the camera and viewers got a full moon – Tyson’s butt took up the screen. — James Williams and Heather Tucker
Jake Paul arrived at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, ahead of his fight with Mike Tyson with a special companion on his arm — his 25-year-old girlfriend Jutta Leerdam, a Dutch Olympic speed skater.
Paul and Leerdam went Instagram official in April 2023, with Paul revealing their relationship by captioning several photos of the couple holding hands, “Im Dutch now.” Paul and Leerdam celebrated their one-year anniversary on April 12.
“I adore you, I’m so grateful for you, you make me the happiest girl in the world,” Leerdam wrote. “The man with the best heart. Let’s never stop dancing baby.”
In his own anniversary post, Paul, 27, said he’s “been in love since day one.” Read more about Leerdam here. — Cydney Henderson
Amando Serrano was ripped off. That’s it. That’s the story from another legendary fight between Katie Taylor and Serrano.
This is not to take anything away from Taylor, who retained her super lightweight belts. She fought hard. The judges awarded her a 95-94 unanimous decision. But she clearly did not win. It’s not even a question of opinion.
The decision was booed by the crowd and chastised by the broadcast crew.
Serrano received a deep cut early in the fight and continued. It was a remarkable display of courage on her part. Taylor was deducted a point for head-butting. During and after the fight both Serrano and her corner said Taylor had a reputation for head-butting opponents.
But the fighters put on another amazing show. It was the second historic fight of the night.
Taylor went to 23-1 and Serrano is 47-3-1. — Mike Freeman
Round 10: They brawl in the center of the ring. Punches fly and no one moves away. They just brawl. Taylor lands a significant left. Serrano lands an uppercut. Serrano isn’t bothered by anything. Blood. Taylor. Nothing. Both fighters showing tremendous guts. Serrano 88, Taylor 87
Round 9: This is another legendary fight, the second of the night. The fighters stand toe-to-toe. Broadcast does an interview with Serrano’s corner, which says that Taylor is known for head-butting opponents. What a moment. What a fight. Serrano 78, Taylor 77
Round 8: Taylor connects with a hard left. Serrano stays strong. The blood pours over Serrano’s face. It has to be blurring her vision. But she pushes on. Taylor loses a point over a headbutt. Replay doesn’t really show any type of headbutt. A phantom headbutt? Ref warns Taylor and says: “You better change something.” Serrano 69, Taylor 68
Round 7: This fight is amazing. It’s another historic bout. Serrano fights on despite a horrific cut. Taylor, because it’s boxing, takes advantage. She goes on the attack and scores but Serrano stands her ground. Serrano connects with an uppercut. Serrano 60, Taylor 59
Round 6: The cut has become a huge issue and the fight is temporarily stopped. It is bad. It is ugly. But the fight goes on. Another display of courage from fighters, in this case Serrano. The cut looks like something from a science fiction movie. Cut man in corner says: “This is no good.” Serrano 52, Taylor 50 
Round 5: Analyst Rosie Perez on the broadcast says Taylor is flirting with danger by keeping her mouth open, risking a broken jaw. Blood covers the face of Serrano. Her corner works on the cut over her eye. So far it seems under control. Serrano 44, Taylor 42
Round 4: Ref gives Tayjor warning about a headbutt. Then she delivers a fast and heavy left to the body. Serrano looks faster and more aggressive. But a problem develops for Serrano as she has a cut over her right eye. The cut man could end up being crucial in this fight. Serrano 36, Taylor 34
Round 3: Serrano continues to look like the aggressor, but Taylor is holding her own. Serrano is throwing various lefts and they are landing. Analyst Roy Jones Jr. says something looks off with Taylor. What’s happening? It’s unclear. But Serrano still looks like the crisper fighter. Serrano 28, Taylor 26
Round 2: Taylor gets hit again with a right but responds with her own combo. Lots of action in this fight. The round ends with Serrano landing another right. The boxing skill is off the chart. Serrano 19, Taylor 18
Round 1: Serrano is clearly the better puncher of the two and it showed in the first round. A huge overhand left connects and Taylor was woozy. She was saved by the bell. And we’re off! The two fighters are picking up where they ended their their first fight. Serrano 10, Taylor 9
Ireland’s Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs) and Puerto Rico’s Amanda Serrano (47-2-1, 31 KOs) are walking into the ring for Taylor’s IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO titles. Their rematch is highly anticiapted after many believed Serrano was robbed of a victory in their fight at Madison Square Garden in 2022. This is the last fight before Mike Tyson-Jake Paul.
ARLINGTON, Texas – The stars Friday night are shining big and bright in the Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium. Famous faces are on-hand to see the highly anticipated fight between boxer/YouTuber Jake Paul and Mike Tyson, a former heavyweight champion.
Legendary boxer Lennox Lewis raised his arms in triumph posing at AT&T Stadium. Lewis, 59, predicted to Netflix that when Paul sees Tyson, Paul’s “going to take off. He’s going to be running. He’s going to be scared.”
Later, Lewis and Evander Holyfield appeared on Netflix’s broadcast. Because of a faulty earpiece, Holyfield couldn’t properly hear the questions. Lewis helped by relaying the queries directly to Holyfield. Holyfield and Tyson faced off in a memorable bout in 1997, during which Tyson bit a piece of Holyfield’s ear off. See what other stars came out here. — Erin Jensen
During their second fight in 1997, Mike Tyson bit off part of Evander Holyfield’s right ear. Tyson was disqualified. The fight came seven months after Holyfield upset Tyson to claim the WBA championship. — Casey Moore
Three-time heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis provided some firsthand insight during an interview before the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight. Lewis fought — and knocked out — Tyson in 2002. Lewis’ eighth-round KO allowed him to retain the WBC, IBF and IBO titles. — Casey Moore
Fans were expecting lots of taunting, lots of action, and very little respect between the combatants.
However, fans may not have expected to see an Oscar nominee as part of the broadcast team.
Rosie Perez, an esteemed actor and choreographer, is also a longtime boxing fanatic. She has described how her love of boxing was engrained in her from a very young age. Read about her boxing chops here. — Jon Hoefling
All eyes will be on Jake Paul when he faces off against Mike Tyson on Friday and the YouTuber-turned boxing star plans to give everyone something to look at.
Paul gave his millions of Instagram followers an early look at his boxing ensemble, which he described as the “most expensive boxing outfit of all-time.” According to Paul, his outfit features 380 carats among his boxing shorts, shoes and jacket. All The Smoke Boxing reported that Paul’s ensemble costs $1 million.
The 27-year-old will wear a pair of silver shorts decked out in tons of bling. Paul’s name is emblazoned on the front of his shorts in diamonds with diamond tennis chains attached all over. The same can be found on his boxing shoes. He completed the look with a jewel-encrusted gray jacket that features the logo of his new body care line, W by Jake Paul. — Cydney Henderson
The fight was beautiful, insane, brilliant, and incredible to watch. It wasn’t just the fight of the night. It will likely be one of the fights of the year.
Mario Barrios retained his WBC welterweight title with a split draw decision over Abel Ramos. The judges ruled it 114-112 Ramos, 116-110 Barrios and 113-113.
Ramos recovered from early-round knockdowns only to knock Barrios to the ground later. For much of the fight the two men brawled. But it was more than a brawl; it was so technically sound for much of it, you could use it as a teaching tool in a class.
This was a remarkable moment in boxing and why the sport isn’t dead yet. — Mike Freeman
Round 12: Ramos lands a strong right and the conditioning is now on display and there are punches in bunches. Barrios at the very end landed a hard right and then another. This ends with great appreciation for two unbelievable warriors. Ramos 107, Barrios 106
Round 11: Barrios’ face swells as if he’s wearing a Halloween mask. He’s not quitting. Ramos gets a cut under his left eye. He’s not quitting, either. Somehow this fight makes it to the final round. This is what courage looks like. Ramos 97, Barrios 96
Round 10: Barrios’ nose continues to bleed, likely impeding his breathing. Ramos’ nose also starts bleeding. There is no stopping or slowing. They are going full-out. Both fighters almost simultaneously land right hands. Ramos’ whole face is bloody now, but nothing is slowing him. Blood? Pffft. Ramos 88, Barrios 86
Round 9: Barrios keeps backing up. Is he trying to set some kind of trap? If he is, it isn’t working. At least not now. Barrios’ nose starts bleeding. Ramos throws consecutive hooks. Ramos hits body shot. Ramos hits with a left hook. This is a wild fight. Ramos 79, Barrios 77
Round 8: This has turned into a brawl which is what Ramos always wanted. The problem remains Barrios’ lack of evading. Ramos looks fresher and meaner. He threw two punches that defined the round: right to the head and one to the body. Ramos’ confidence could ignite another Big Bang. Ramos 70, Barrios 69
Round 7: Barrios keeps dropping his guard and Ramos keeps taking advantage. Now, Ramos believes he can win. What a remarkable turn this has taken. Barrios keeps moving straight backwards with Ramos in pursuit. Barrios 60, Ramos 60
Round 6: WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! A shocker! What a stunning turn. Ramos lands a hard right punch and the champ goes down. What the hell just happened? Boxing happened. That’s what. Ramos’ toughness has changed this fight. Barrios catches another punch near the bell. Everything has suddenly changed. Barrios 53, Ramos 50
Round 5: Barrios continues to dictate the pace. Barios has set the terms and Ramos can’t quite counter. Ramos’ best weapon remains the jab. Barrios remains patient. He knows he’s in control and is pursuing. He’s just waiting. Barrios 45, Ramos 40
Round 4: Ramos is tough and game, but he’s run into a superb, world-class fighter. Every punch Ramos throws lands, but not hard. Meanwhile, Barrios seemingly connects at will. Barrios has 18 knockouts. One more could be coming soon. Barrios 38, Ramos 33
Round 3: Barrios realizes he can get to Ramos at any time so he spent time measuring and dissecting. Ramos shows a tremendous amount of heart in the face of danger and responds with combinations to the body of Barrios. Ramos was getting his shots in, but Barrios still in control. Barrios 29, Ramos 25
Round 2: Barrios threw a three-punch combination so fast that it was a blur. This is why boxing requires such superhuman skill because of sick hand speed like that. We saw that speed again when Barrios connected to Ramos, causing him to crash to the canvas. It was a left hook followed by a right hand. Barrios 20, Ramos 16
Round 1: Ramos is known for his highly impactful jab and he throws it effectively from the start. But Barrios wasn’t messing around with too many jabs. He threw a hard right to the face of Ramos and it absolutely shook him. In fact, it sent him nearly to the ground. That fluid, technical, powerful punch is why Barrios is a champion. Barrios 10, Ramos 8
Mario Barrios (29-2) and  Abel Ramos (28-6-2) have entered the ring and introductions are underway for the second fight of the main card. They ae fighting for Barrios’ WBC welterweight title.
The 29-year-old WBC welterweight title holder goes by the nickname “El Azteca” as a tribute to his Mexican heritage and Aztec civilization. — Casey Moore
Mario Barrios, who is fighting Abel Ramos on the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul main card, was born in San Antonio, Texas, but he routinely represents his Mexican-American heritage during his fights. — Casey Moore
Neeraj Goyat danced. Goyat showboated. Goyat toyed with Whindersson Nunes. It was, well, a sloppy fight but Goyat made it fun with his goofiness.
The judges scored the fight 59-55 and 60-54.
This wasn’t the prettiest of fights but it was also the kind of bout that can bring in a new type of boxing audience, because Goyat – who is represented by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions – has millions of followers on social media. At least, that’s the hope. — Mike Freeman
Round 6: Goyat finishes the fight the way he started it. He dominates Nunes with flurries of punches, all over the body and face. Goyat also hot dogs so much he should get a mustard deal. But it’s more than fine because he backed it up. As analyst/actor/all-around great queen Rosie Perez said: “It was a sloppy fight, but it was fun!’’ Goyat 54, Nunes 45
Round 5: Nunes goes back to head hunting which is ineffective, and leaves him vulnerable to precision body shots, and Goyat obliges him. Goyat looks far more experienced (and he is). Goyat doesn’t have the power which is why this fight is still a fight. If Goyat had power this fight would have been over in the first round. Goyat 44, Nunes 38 
Round 4: Goyat throws a gorgeous, multi-level combo that stuns Nunes. Nunes then throws a nasty left body shot. Goyat goes back to putting on a show. He loves the entertaining part of this. Goyat 35, Nunes 31
Round 3: Goyat is throwing a lot of punches but they aren’t as effective as they should be. Now, Goyat looks tired. He walks across the ring, almost marching, which is a delay tactic. Nunes throws the hardest punch of the fight, landing to the body of Goyat. Nunes is starting to do some damage. Goyat 27, Nunes 24
Round 2: Goyat continues to showboat. It’s actually genuinely funny. I could watch Goyat do this all night. But behind the show are some substantial punches. Goyat 19, Nunes 15
Round 1: Goyat starts with a nice shot to the body and then launches the quick escape. Goyat teases Nunes and Nunes doesn’t make him pay. Goyat again connects. He has millions of followers on social media so all the showboating probably got him 20 million more. Goyat 10, Nunes 8
India’s Neeraj Goyat (18-4) and Brazil’s Whindersson Nunes (2-2-1) have entered the ring and introductions are underway for the first fight of the main card.
In the closest fight of the prelims, Shadasia Green beat Melinda Watpool by split decision to win the WBO super middleweight title.
The scores: 97-93 Green, 96-94 Green, and 96-94 Watpool.
The fight was so close because both fighters were super technical and smart. Green, early in the bout, was the more aggressive fighter. But it was Watpool who finished with more punching flurries.
And now, we move over to Netflix, home of the main event, and Love is Blind. Though in many ways the latter will always be the champion. — Mike Freeman
Round 10: Green displays footwork in evading, but hasn’t been throwing effective punches. She’s actually being tentative in the final round which is sub-optimal. My scoring is sub-optimal. This fight is so close. Watpool 94, Green 92
Round 9: The action picks up big time. Have to give Watpool the slight advantage. Both fighters know these rounds will determine the fight. One thing Green might regret when this fight is over – she has a size advantage that she hasn’t taken advantage of. Watpool 84, Green 83
Round 8: Both fighters being more evasive. Green is bouncing and swift. Her footwork is beautiful. It seems to throw Watpool off. Another close round. In Green’s corner, trainer tells her that Watpool isn’t on Green’s level. But apparently she is. Green 75, Watpool 75
Round 7: Green throws the most beautiful right-hand counter on the night. Watpool throws her own nice counter. Watpool the aggressor in this round. Green 67, Watpool 67
Round 6: Green gets more aggressive and chases Watpool down. Watpool decides to square up and pays the price. Green getting far more aggressive. Green throws a looping overhand that doesn’t connect but it’s a symbol of her aggression. She finished the round with a nice left to the face of Watpool. Green 59, Watpool 58
Round 5: Watpool lands some punches, but Green shrugs them off. Watpool throws a wide right that connects, but barely. We finally see Watpool do what Roy Green Jr. has been asking her to do, move in close, and be active. Fight still close. Green 49, Watpool 49
Round 4: Watpool continues to stay a little too far to the outside. She needs to stay closer and make the fight brawl-ier. That’s not a word, but it’s boxing. We make our own words. The output is lagging with both fighters. Green 39, Watpool 39
Round 3: Watpool plays with fire by standing within Green’s perfect punching distance. But Watpool is fearless and lands her own punches. Who should fear who exactly? Green ends the round with a nice combo. This fight is close. Green 30, Watpool 29
Round 2: Green throws a hard right through the guard of Watpool. It was a beautifully vicious punch. The action picks up heavily with both fighters throwing hard punches. Green lands the hardest, though. This is a fun fight. Green 20, Watpool 19
Round 1: The fighters clearly just feeling each other out. No aggressor. In the corner, Watpool’s trainer says to be more on the attack. Green 10, Watpool 10
ARLINGTON, Texas — James Spraggins, a personal trainer who worked with Mike Tyson for three years, said he considers Tyson slapping Jake Paul across the face at the weigh-in a good sign.
“He’s a predator, hunting for knockouts,’’ said Spraggins, who operated an electrical muscular stimulation machine while training Tyson. “Jake, yelling, and acting silly brought the predator out.’’ — Josh Peter
ARLINGTON, Texas — Tyson Chandler, 49, from Corsicana, Texas, wanted to attend the fight with his son, also named Tyson. For his first time seeing Mike Tyson, Chandler says he paid $4,000 per floor seat.
“It’s a lot of memories, lifetime experience,” Chandler says. “Maybe (Tyson’s) last fight ever, possibly.”
Chandler hopes Tyson “knocks (Paul) out … as fast as possible.”DeCynda Chambers, 57, traveled from New Orleans to see “Iron Mike”.
“I think it’s just epic to see Mike fight in person,” she says. “He was one of my favorites back then, and he’s still my favorite. So we had to fly down to come and see him.”
Chambers doesn’t know how much her floor ticket cost, as it was a gift. But for an event like this, no expense was spared.
“It’s like (a) once-in-a-lifetime moment,” she says.
Paul Dewitt’s very generous best friend, James Dixon, gifted him a $6,500 ticket for the fight. It’s date night for the guys and their wives.
“I’ve always been a Tyson fan,” 51-year-old Dewitt says. “Did some amateur boxing and the fact that I can watch Mike Tyson live, it’s a dream come true.”
“It doesn’t matter,” the ticket price Dixon, 50, says. “I just wanted to see Tyson.” — Erin Jensen
ARLINGTON, Texas — If you’re looking for a sign that this event is larger than life, the 40-foot inflatables of Mike Tyson and Jake Paul outside the west end of the stadium is a good place to start.
The inflatable versions of Tyson and Paul are accompanied with audio recorded statements in what sound like the boxers’ real voices.
“Watch me put this little YouTuber to sleep,’’ Tyson says. And, “Who’s ready to see me obliviate Jake Paul?’’
Yes, obliviate.
Among Paul’s recorded statements, “Watch me put rusty Iron Mike to sleep.’’ And, ”I know legends out.’’
On the east side of the stadium stand inflatables of Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor, who are set to fight in the co-main event.
The inflatables are well traveled. They started at the Texas state fair in Dallas, then made stops in New York, Miami and Atlanta before heading to AT&T Stadium in time for the arrival of the real Tyson and Paul. — Josh Peter
We have our first questionable outcome of the night.
Lucas Bahdi beat Armando Casamonica by unanimous decision. It was a close fight. But in typical boxing form, where scoring can be, um, divergent, the judges ruled it 95-95, 96-93 and 98-92.
Listen, my scoring sucks but I’m not a professional judge.
Casamonica seemed to be the more active fighter but hell, who knows.
Bahdi improves to 18-0 while Casamonica falls to 14-1. — Mike Freeman
Round 10: Casamonica took this fight on short notice but you wouldn’t know it from his excellent conditioning. Badhi is the one who usually applies the pressure, but he’s been the one under attack. Badhi throws a nice uppercut and Casamonica responds with a flurry of punches. At the end, Casamonica stepped up with more aggression. It was that way throughout the fight. Casamonica 98, Bahdi, 91
Round 9: It’s almost the end of the fight but Bahdi still isn’t active enough. They exchange blows, then wrestle. Ref breaks it up. Then Bahdi lands a nice overhand right. He seems to finally understand he needs to push the pace. Casamonica 88, Bahdi 82
Round 8: Bahdi is sitting back and waiting to counter but he’s not punching enough. Casamonica puts together some nice combinations. He’s sitting into his punches. He throws another hard right to the head of Bahdi. Another quick aside: there are over 300,000 people watching the YouTube livestream. Truly remarkable. Casamonica 78, Bahdi 73
Round 7: Casamonica throws a beautiful four-punch combination. He is starting to find the distance. He’s displaying some strong footwork and quickness. He lands a right and now you feel a shift in the fight. Bahdi is thinking too much. Casamonica 68, Bahdi 64
Round 6: Bahdi responds with some good counters but they aren’t doing much damage. Bahdi is also breathing heavily. The announcers are getting bored. Casamonica 58, Bahdi 56
Round 5: Both fighters take a step back in terms of aggression. Few punches land. But Casamonica lands the few that do. Both fighters starting to look a little tired. Bahdi is almost solely looking for the knockout shot. He needs to amplify his offense. Casamonica 48, Bahdi 47
Round 4: Casamonica throws a beautiful combo but he flirts with danger by staying in the pocket that long with hands low. Bahdi, however, is the more active fighter. This fight so far is extremely close. Bahdi 38, Casamonica 38
Round 3: Casamonica lands a sweeping left hook to the body. Bahdi responds with his own left to the body. The action is picking up now. Quick aside: Former champion Roy Jones Jr. is one of the analysts for the fight and he’s freaking from the future. He predicts almost every punch thrown before it’s thrown. He’s a time traveler. No question. Casamonica 29, Bahdi 28
Round 2: Bahdi sets a trap for an uppercut and hits. But so far both fighters are afraid of letting their hands go. That’s because both are aware of each other’s reputation for knockout power. So far, not much action here. Casamonica 19, Bahdi 19
Round 1: Casamonica knows one thing: moving forward. Then moving forward and oh, by the way, moving forward. He’s eating some punches from Bahdi but landing some of his. Very even first round but Casamonica’s aggression gets him the nod. Casamonica 10, Bahdi 9
If you’re looking for one of the future stars of boxing, look no further than Bruce Carrington.
He beat Dana Coolwell in the eight-round fight by unanimous decision. Each judge scored it 80-70.
It was a completely one-sided though entertaining fight. Carrington knocked Coolwell down twice and beat him with a relentless combination of punches that was so varied Coolwell had no defense.
If this fight was any indication this is going to be a hell of a night. — Mike Freeman
Round 8: Carrington carried himself like he was the best fighter from start to finish because, well, he was. But it cannot be overstated how tough Coolwell was in this fight. It would have been within the ref’s right to stop the fight because of the punches Coolwell was taking. Carrington backs Coolwell into a corner and knocks him down for the second time in the fight. He’s trying to get his ninth knockout. Carrington 80, Coolwell 60.
Round 7: Carrington sizes up the midsection of Coolwell and tees off. One of the best things about watching Carrington is not just his offense but his delicious defense. Few of Coolwell’s punches are getting through. Coolwell continues to show a gigantic heart, taking numerous vicious punches. Carrington 70, Coolwell 54.
Round 6: Coolwell continues to walk forward but is careful because every time he does, he catches jabs and rights. Left hook to the body of Coolwell stuns him. Carrington starts to show off a little with bouncy footwork. Carrington 60, Coolwell 47.
Round 5: This is a major step up in competition for Coolwell and it’s showing. Coolwell is displaying great courage but is overmatched by Carrington’s speed and skill. Carrington is delivering a symphony of differing punches and tempos. Carrington hits Coolwell with a splendid stash of same side punching on the left. Carrington 50, Coolwell 39.
Round 4: Coolwell punches too low and hits Carrington in the jingle bells. Then, a flash: Carrington knocks Coolwell down with a left hook. The punch moved at warp speed. Carrington 40, Coolwell 31. 
Round 3: Carrington continues his domination. He lands a hard left. You’re seeing the fight start to shift as Carrington begins to put on a boxing clinic. And why not? He’s from Brooklyn, after all, land of the boxers who give clinics. Carrington 30, Coolwell 24. 
Round 2: Coolwell immediately establishes the jab but for now, for right now, it feels like Carrington is toying with the Australian. Traps are being set. So far. Carrington with another body shot. Felt that one from a thousand miles away. Then a right from Carrington. Carrington finishes with an electric combination. Carrington 20, Coolwell 16.
Round 1: Fighters come out measured but Carrington, from Brooklyn, has the more effective jab. He connects quickly to the body of Coolwell. But Coolwell responds with efficiency and nice jabs of his own. Carrington attacks the body with a nuclear combination. Carrington 10, Coolwell 8.
BetMGM’s up-to-date odds for the fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul:
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There are three different types of Netflix subscriptions: standard with ads, standard and premium. All Netflix users, regardless of subscription tier, will be able to watch the fight for no additional cost. Here are the different Netflix subscriptions, their prices and what they come with:
Mike Tyson is 58 years old. His birthday is June 30, 1966.
Mike Tyson is 50-6 during his career with 44 knockouts.
Born on Jan. 17, 1997, Jake Paul is 27 years old.
Jake Paul’s record is 10-1 with seven knockouts.
At the request of USA TODAY, six body language experts reviewed video of what took place when Tyson, 58, and Paul, 27, met at midfield and elsewhere inside AT&T Stadium before the Cowboys lost to the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 15.
A handshake drew special attention. Initiated by Paul, the handshake took place after the men stared each other down at midfield for about 12 seconds. Not all body language experts had the same interpretation of the handshake that lasted slightly more than one second. Read what they had to say here. — Josh Peter
Mike Tyson will be able to wear the black neoprene sleeve he had on his right knee Tuesday at Open Workouts, according to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.  
The knee sleeve was spotted during a video of Tyson training posted on social media last month. Tyson’s agent, Andrew Ruf, told USA TODAY Sports the boxer is wearing a compression sleeve on his right knee as a preventative measure and does not have an injury. — Josh Peter
Plenty of bettors nationwide have lofty expectations for the upcoming fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson.
“I expect Tyson vs. Paul to be the most-bet-on boxing match in BetMGM history,” BetMGM senior trader Alex Rella said. “This is the rare fight that transcends different demographics: Tyson supporters, old-school boxing fans that may have tuned out in recent years, Jake Paul haters and casual sports fans that want to be included in the conversation.”
Paul already owns the No. 2 spot for most-bet boxing matches at BetMGM after his decision victory over Nate Diaz. And, as Rella put it, “Diaz isn’t Tyson.”
The other aspect to consider is where the public money lies. People might be surprised to learn it isn’t with the 27-year-old who has a 10-1 professional record. A staggering 80% of bets, including 73% of money, are on the 58-year-old Tyson to win, per BetMGM. — Richard Morin
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Mark Calo-oy, a veteran referee from Texas, has been picked to handle the fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, according to a copy of the official’s assignments obtained by USA TODAY Sports. 
He and Paul won’t need to be introduced. Calo-oy, 64, refereed Paul’s bout against Nate Diaz, a mixed martial arts fan favorite, Aug. 5, 2023 in Dallas. 
Paul, the YouTuber-turned boxer, won the highly anticipated, 10-round fight by unanimous decision. — Josh Peter
The black boxing trunks Mike Tyson once wore with menace now have a poignant tribute. The name of his late daughter, Exodus Sierra Tyson, is stitched onto the bottom front corner in white lettering, photos show. The garment was specially designed for Tyson by BYLT Premium Basics, a clothing company the boxer has partnered with. 
Robert Pursell, a spokesman for BYLT, said the company expects Tyson will wear the trunks for his fight with against Jake Paul Friday at AT&T Stadium. — Josh Peter
Mike Tyson’s last pro fight took place June 11, 2005. He lost to Kevin McBride when he failed to come out for the seventh round. In 2020, Tyson fought Roy Jones Jr. in an eight-round exhibition, which ended in a split draw as scored by celebrity judges. 
The boxing ring for the fight will measure 20 feet by 20 feet inside the ropes, according to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), which regulates combat sports. 
Tyson would have preferred to fight in a phone booth, the better to get to Paul quickly without exerting too much energy. Paul would have preferred to fight in a parking lot, the better to tire the 58-year-old former world heavyweight champion. 
By TDLR rules, the ring must measure no less than 16 by 16 feet and no more than 24 by 24. Within that range, the size of the ring is up to the promoter. 
Not to be outdone, Mike Tyson shared a highlight reel on Instagram that showed clips of him training, stretching and talking about getting back into the ring. (Editor’s note: Reel includes NSFW language).
Tyson says, in part: “It’s a war. … You gotta really believe that. It’s all I’ve ever lived for. Doubt should be eliminated. You should be a doubt annihilator.“
Jake Paul proved long ago he is a champion in the social media ring. A few hours before the fight, he shared a photo of himself as a young child on Instagram, posing in a camo T-shirt and showing off his right biceps. The caption read:
“They can’t stop you kid. You’d be so proud of where we are. You always wanted to be an athlete on the biggest stages and playing in the biggest moments. You did it kid. You did it. Nobody ever had to believe in you because all it took was you. Tonight we show the world what we’re made of. Tonight we show everyone else that all it takes is a dream, belief, and unwavering commitment. Tonight we arrive home. Tonight we come alive. GOD DID.” — Heather Tucker
Netflix, the streamer with more than 280 million subscribers worldwide, is going all-in on the fight. The company based in Los Gatos, California, which began streaming live events with a Chris Rock comedy special last year, worked with Most Valuable Promotions to make history.
Netflix’s first live-streamed, professionally sanctioned boxing match will be the streamer’s largest live sports event, according to the Los Angeles Times. The company – which said recently its ad-supported tier reached 70 million active monthly users, up 30 million since May, is trying to grow its advertising dollars. And advertisers want maximum eyeballs at one time – thus, live events are key.
“With Netflix, a lot of our appeal lies in the distribution and reach that we have globally,” said Brandon Riegg, Netflix’s vice president of nonfiction series and sports. “[I]t’s an awesome opportunity where everybody in the world can tune in at the exact same time and have the exact same experience, watching the exact same fight collectively.” — Heather Tucker
Some of you may be wondering why this fight, why someone who is 58, fighting someone decades younger, has become such a big deal. On its surface, this bout is a joke. It’s silly. It shows the lows boxing has reached. But dig deeper. Look specifically at Tyson.
The fact that you know that name, and it catches your attention, says it all. Tyson hasn’t fought in years and yet you’re reading this, and getting your popcorn ready to watch this thing. That’s because Tyson has built up a currency as a cultural force that lasts to this day. If you’re of a certain age (raises hand) Tyson was as much a part of the culture as almost any big star alive today.
He embodied America’s fascination with violence. Every fight we waited to see how badly he would knock out his opponent. Then things shifted and we waited to see if he would ever fall. Like many champions, his fall was as must-watch as his rise.
The interest in this fight today is a piece of what it was like in the 1980s and 1990s. Only multiply it by a 1,000. This is the power of Tyson. This is the power that resonates today and likely will for years to come. — Mike Freeman
The expected crowd of 70,000 will fall short of Paul’s promise of 90,000. But the ticket prices reflect an increased demand over the past few days.
Prices for get-in tickets listed on Seat Geek on Friday climbed to $50 from as low as $30 less than two weeks ago. But the more significant spike came from field-level seats, according to seasoned ticket broker Patrick Ryan.
Over the past three days, Ryan said, prices for those seats have tripled, to $1,800 from $600 apiece.
The stadium has a seating capacity of 80,000 but can expand to 90,000 with Standing Room Only tickets. Those tickets have not been put on sale. — Josh Peter
Jake Paul said he’ll make $40 million for his fight with Mike Tyson. Tyson is expected to make $20 million. 
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Mike Tyson’s net worth is $10 million.
Paul is 6-1, 227.2 pounds and has a reach of 77 inches.
Tyson is 5-10, 228.4 pounds and has a reach of 71 inches.
Caesars SportsBook has reported taking a $1 million bet on Jake Paul to win, and Jay Kornegay, a well-regarded bookmaker in Las Vegas, reports “a lot of solid action” on the fight.
Kornegay, executive vice president of race and sportsbook operations at the Westgate SuperBook, said it won’t approach levels for the fight between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor in 2017, “but tremendous action across the board..”
He said 87% of the tickets are on Tyson, but overall the handle is balanced due to large wagers on Paul. When asked about the $1 million bet, Kornegay said, “People supporting Paul are betting with conviction and a lot of confidence. People betting (on) Mike seem to be in a what-the-heck state of mind.” — Josh Peter
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Jake Paul’s net worth is $80 million.
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