Mike Tyson proved Dana White wrong by stepping into the ring at 58 years old and facing Jake Paul in an eight-round main event broadcast on Netflix. Despite White’s concerns about Tyson risking his health, the former heavyweight boxing champion didn’t sustain much damage and didn’t suffer a knockdown in the fight.
After the event, White admitted his mistake, saying, “Mike Tyson was right, and I was wrong.” Tyson’s confidence in facing Paul paid off, as he made a significant amount of money and left the ring unharmed. Paul, on the other hand, claimed he didn’t go for the knockout on Tyson out of respect for the boxing legend.
White emphasized that Tyson’s age and experience made it clear that Paul wouldn’t pose a significant threat, and the outcome of the fight shouldn’t have come as a surprise to anyone. Despite some disappointment in the lack of excitement in the match, White pointed out that it was a free event for Netflix subscribers.
While White may not buy Paul’s reasoning for not going for the knockout, he was pleased that Tyson emerged from the fight without sustaining much damage. The viewership numbers for the event were huge, with 60 million households tuning in to watch Paul vs. Tyson and 50 million watching the Serrano vs. Taylor fight.
White acknowledged that some viewers may have been disappointed by the fight, but he stressed that the outcome was exactly as expected. Despite the mixed reactions to the event, White highlighted that it was a memorable night for boxing fans.