Mike Tyson’s controversial return to boxing ended in a lopsided defeat on Saturday as YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul secured a dominant unanimous decision victory over the 58-year-old legend at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Tyson struggled throughout the eight-round bout, landing only a few significant punches, while the 27-year-old Paul showcased superior speed and movement to control the fight. The judges scored the bout convincingly in Paul’s favour: 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73.

Paul put Tyson under pressure early, particularly in the third round, when a flurry of punches left the former undisputed heavyweight champion visibly troubled. 

However, Paul fell short of delivering the knockout he boldly promised during Thursday’s heated weigh-in, where Tyson slapped him in frustration.

The stats painted a clear picture of the fight: Tyson landed just 18 of 97 punches thrown, compared to Paul’s 78 of 278. Despite the one-sided nature of the contest, Paul paid tribute to Tyson in the final moments, bowing in respect as the clock ticked down.

Tyson’s age and long absence from competitive boxing were evident, as the iconic fighter struggled to match the energy and pace of his much younger opponent.