Among the 72,000-plus crowd at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Friday night were a host of celebrities who watched the battle of generations between former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and Jake Paul.
The star-studded heavyweight boxing mega event saw Paul defeating Tyson by unanimous decision. But they were not the only two big names in the stadium.
Besides the two boxers inside the ring, stars from the entertainment and sports world at ringside also had the entire world glued to the event.
Here’s a look at some of that star attraction:
In a highly anticipated bout, Paul secured a clear victory against Tyson through unanimous decision. The 27-year-old social media personality turned professional boxer outperformed the former heavyweight champion, who was competing in his first sanctioned professional match in nearly two decades.
The pre-fight animosity dissipated during the match, replaced by audience disappointment over the lacklustre performance. Spectators, who had questioned the fight’s authenticity beforehand, expressed their dissatisfaction through jeers.
The judges’ scorecards reflected Paul’s dominance, with one official scoring it 80-72 and two others recording 79-73 in his favour.
Despite Tyson’s initial aggression and early successful strikes, his offensive output diminished significantly thereafter. The modified rules, including shortened rounds and heavier gloves intended to reduce striking power, failed to generate substantial action.
Following Tyson’s opening flurry, Paul maintained offensive pressure, albeit with imprecise technique. His attacks frequently missed their intended target.
Tyson adopted a predominantly defensive strategy, rarely initiating exchanges. This contrasted sharply with the preceding match between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, where Taylor retained her super lightweight title in a contentious decision after an intense battle.
This marked Tyson’s first sanctioned contest since 2005, following his exhibition match against Roy Jones in 2020. Paul’s boxing career spans approximately four years.
The event, initially scheduled for July 20, was delayed due to Tyson’s hospitalisation for a stomach ulcer after becoming unwell during a flight.