Last Friday, a sports icon returned from retirement, with 58-year-old Mike Tyson taking on Jake Paul in his first professional fight since 2005 in front of more than 70,000 fans, a rare feat at a sporting event. It brought untouchable decibels. AT&T Stadium in Arlingon, Texas.
However, by midway through the fight, boos rang out from the crowd and Paul won by unanimous decision, sparking accusations of a rigged match on social media.
If you know Jake Paul, that doesn't bother him. He has grown from hatred and embraced the role of heel in boxing and life.
“He's a 'problem' kid. People want to boo him. That's his special sauce,” Most Valuable Promotions co-founder Nakisa Bidalian said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital. said in an interview.
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(Cooper Neal/Getty Images, Netflix)
Vidalian and Paul co-founded MVP together three years ago, and their promotion helped bring women's boxing to the spotlight with two spectacles by Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, the second of which was held last week in Arlington. It became the co-main event.
Bidalian acknowledged that Tyson was probably responsible for 60 million households watching the fight and the largest gate in history being erected outside Las Vegas, but that Paul “played a huge role” in the historic event. ” he said.
It was historic by almost every metric: attendance, viewership, attendance, wagering, and social media discussion. However, the overwhelming reaction to this fight was disappointment.
“I don't care what people say. They always have something to say. It is what it is,” Paul told FOX News Digital after the game.
Bidalian added in an interview, “The only victory would have been if Mike Tyson knocked out Jake Paul. Otherwise, the haters would have found a way to complain no matter what.”
However, given that this is a Paul spectacle, there is once again speculation that the fight was match-fixed, staged, or staged.
Jake Paul (left) is announced as the winner over Mike Tyson on November 15, 2024 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Al Bello/Getty Images for Netflix ©2024)
Some fans are trying to point out instances where the former heavyweight champion could have easily knocked Paul out with an uppercut. Some say Tyson chewed on his gloves to prevent himself from getting violent in the ring. Some fans believe that there is no way a boxer with only four years of experience can defeat the “baddest man on the planet.”
However, Bidalian said all of these claims are false.
“Regarding this match in particular, I would say this: It was sanctioned by the Sports Commission. Our partner was Netflix, America's largest media company and public entity. There was professional sports betting,” Bidalian said. “So if you rigged a competition like that, it's a federal crime. And me, Jake Paul, Mike Tyson, the Netflix executives would all go to prison. They It would put the whole company at risk, and I You're going to put our company at risk.'' It's ridiculous that people would suggest that this is nothing more than a professional fight, to spend a lifetime doing something like that…This fight… Of course, that never happened in any of Jake's matches. ”
“This was 100% authentic from start to finish,” he added. “It was all too real that the player had an ulcer, so we took five months off to give him time to heal the ulcer so he could perform at his highest level. If so, why did you postpone it?'' She could have just said, “Oh, you have an ulcer, and we won't bump into each other, so we'll be fine.'' what are people talking about? ”
Mike Tyson and Jake Paul exchange punches at AT&T Stadium on November 15, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Teyfan Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Jake Paul Mike Tyson Snoozer receives harsh criticism: 'He's not cut out for boxing'
More high-profile fighters at the top of their game are on the pole, including Ryan Garcia, lightweight champion Gervonta Davis, heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois, and undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev. I'm calling out. Vidalian said Paul was interested in “everything” about the investigation “except for one thing.”
“Jake's next goal is what Jake wants. He's the biggest face in boxing. …His goal is to be a world champion. So we're going to give him that opportunity. And that's our goal: to think outside the box, be disruptive, and be imaginative. We did that last Friday and we will continue to do that. ”
It's no secret that Paul is hated, and many think this is just a marketing ploy. It's no secret that Paul is a master of marketing, and some of his opponents have been chosen quite wisely. But as much of a businessman as Paul may be, Vidalian said he sees him as a boxer “first and foremost.”
“He spends 70 to 75 percent of his time there,” Bidalian said.
At the same time, Paul also emphasizes the “professional'' in the word “professional boxer.''
“He's the most professional boxer in professional boxing. He's a businessman, he acts like a business, he shows up on time, he delivers all the lines he has to deliver, he gives promotions when no one wants him to. We will…,” Bidalian said. “He knows how to sell. [Dallas Cowboys owner] Jerry Jones said to Jake Paul, “Boy, you're one of the greatest marketers in all of sports.'' It's true. He is in his fourth year in the sport and is co-headlining a record-setting event. ”
That's why Vidalian has a pretty strong message for those who don't believe Paul is a serious boxer.
Jake Paul celebrates his victory over Mike Tyson. (Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
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“I'd like to see another athlete with four-and-a-half years of experience, including his amateur and high school career, who has accomplished as much in and out of the ring as he has,” Bidalian said. “Even that performance against Mike Tyson at 58 years old is pretty unique for someone only four years into the sport. …Jake Paul enters the den of lions and outboxes a far more accomplished boxer in his prime. That's more impressive than Jake Paul and what 99% of boxers do in their 10th, 12th, 15th fight.
“More importantly, Jake Paul performed in a way that no athlete has ever seen in this sport,” he continued. “He is an advocate for women in this sport, an advocate for youth in this sport, and he is investing his own money into renovating gyms so that young boys and girls can learn the sport of boxing. He is partnering with USA Boxing to To increase amateur interest in sports.
“In my opinion, he's the greatest talent this sport has ever seen.”
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