NEW DELHI: Mike Tyson, the former world heavyweight champion, shared that he has no regrets about his loss to Jake Paul in their heavyweight boxing match on Saturday.
The 58-year-old boxing legend faced a unanimous decision defeat to 27-year-old YouTube star Paul on Friday at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. The event drew a massive crowd of 72,300 fans, with an additional 60 million households tuning in globally, according to Netflix’s broadcast.
“This is one of those situations when you lost but still won. I’m grateful for last night. No regrets to get in ring one last time,” Tyson wrote on social media after the bout.
“I almost died in June. Had 8 blood transfusions. Lost half my blood and 25lbs in hospital and had to fight to get healthy to fight so I won,” he added.
“To have my children see me stand toe to toe and finish 8 rounds with a talented fighter half my age in front of a packed Dallas Cowboy stadium is an experience that no man has the right to ask for. Thank you,” he said.
Paul, 27, relied on his superior speed and movement to dominate the ageing Tyson, putting the former undisputed heavyweight champion under pressure with a flurry of punches in the third round.
Despite this, the younger fighter failed to deliver the knockout blow he had promised during the heated weigh-in, where Tyson slapped him across the face.
Tyson, looking every bit his 58 years, managed to land only a few meaningful punches throughout the fight.
Final statistics revealed Tyson connected with just 18 of 97 punches thrown, while Paul threw 278 punches and landed 78 of them.
As the final seconds of the eighth round ticked away, Paul even bowed in respect to Tyson before the bell sounded.