Mike Tyson and Jake Paul have been suspended following their controversial clash in Texas on Friday night.
The pair went head-to-head in eight largely uneventful rounds at the AT&T Stadium, which ended with the YouTuber-turned-boxer prevailing via unanimous decision.
However, following the night’s action, the pair now face a period on the sidelines, though not because of either of their actions in front of a packed crowd or the millions watching on Netflix from around the world.
It is on account of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation which mandates fighters observe a period of rest after bouts to ensure their safety.
In most combat sports, fighters must stay out of the ring for at east seven days.
Rules state that an extra three days are added to the suspension for every additional round contested. While Tyson – or Paul for that matter – would have faced a 60-day layoff if a knockout was landed.
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Jake Paul and Mike Tyson are facing a period on the sidelines after their controversial clash
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Paul claimed victory over the former heavyweight champion, who was competing in his first professional bout in 19 years
‘Medical disqualification of a contestant is for their own safety and may be made at the recommendation of the examining physician or TDLR [Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation],’ the regulations state.
‘A contestant who disagrees with a medical disqualification, medical suspension or rest period set at the discretion of a ringside physician or a disqualification or suspension set by the department may request a hearing to show proof of fitness.’
Perhaps that better explains why Paul did not land a serious blow on his opponent, 31 years his senior, during the clash when he was clearly in the ascendancy.
Tyson, 58, was unable to match Paul’s energy and his condition worsened throughout the eight-round clash. The YouTuber sensationally revealed after the bout that he decided not knockout the former heavyweight champion out.
In the last 10 seconds of the fight, he even stepped back and bowed towards Tyson in a show of respect to sporting royalty – while effectively taking his foot off the gas.
When asked whether he eased up after noticing Tyson tiring, Paul said: ‘Yeah definitely. Definitely a bit. ‘I wanted to give the fans a show but I didn’t want to hurt someone that didn’t need to be hurt.’
Speaking to Mail Sport after the fight, Jake’s brother Logan said of Tyson: ‘I think Jake let him live.’ He added: ‘He’s tough, proud of him, weathered the storm against a young brute named Jake Paul.’
The underwhelming spectacle drew a few boos at the finish, while many of the those who watched the clash online were left feeling empty by the sight of the veteran.
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Jake Paul, 27, admitted that he took it easy on the veteran after realising that he was tiring
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The YouTuber even bowed to his 58-year-old opponent in the latter stages of the fight
‘Jake let him live!’ Logan Paul addresses Mike Tyson’s challenge
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KSI, who fought Paul’s brother Logan in 2019, described the fight in Texas as ‘elderly abuse’
Tyson was only in action for 16 minutes on Friday. But to those watching him lumber around the ring with a brace on his right knee, it felt much longer. At one point, ‘he’s 58’ began trending on X in reference to Iron Mike’s age.
KSI, who fought Paul’s older brother Logan in 2019 and correctly predicted that the duel would not be a contest, labelled the event ‘elderly abuse’.
‘What a sad watch,’ he wrote on Instagram. ‘Whole of this was sad. Mike Tyson is twice the age of Jake Paul ffs. It was never EVER gonna be close. I can’t believe that this elderly abuse was even sanctioned. Just disgusting.’
The veteran was competing in his first professional duel in almost two decades and it showed as he failed to keep pace with his much younger opponent.
The stats only confirmed what everyone already knew: Tyson landed just 18 of 97 punches, with only four of those shots connecting with Paul’s torso.
