Jake Paul and his team have fired back at accusations that his blockbuster fight against Mike Tyson was rigged.
Paul secured a unanimous decision victory over Tyson in their highly anticipated Nov. 15 matchup, but the fight failed to deliver on the hype. The action in the ring was underwhelming, and fans faced widespread streaming issues on Netflix, adding to the disappointment.
Paul created some controversy after the fight, saying he chose not to knock the 58-year-old Tyson out.
“I wanted to give the fans a show, but I didn’t want to hurt someone that didn’t need to be hurt," Paul said. "There was a point where I was like, ‘OK, he’s not really engaging back.’ And so, I don’t know if he’s tired or whatever, I could just tell that his age was showing a little bit. I just have so much respect for him."
Paul and Most Valuable Promotions pushed back against fight-fixing claims in a statement put out on Monday.
“Following the wide circulation of incorrect and baseless claims that undermine the integrity of the Paul vs. Tyson event, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) would like to set the record straight regarding the contractual agreements and the nature of the fight," the statement said.
“Rigging a professional boxing match is a federal crime in the United States of America. Paul vs. Tyson was a professional match sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR). Both fighters in good faith performed to the best of their abilities with the goal of winning the fight. There were absolutely no restrictions – contractual or otherwise – around either fighter. Each boxer was able to use his full arsenal to win the fight. Any agreement to the contrary would violate TDLR boxing rules."
Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions, also defended Paul as a legitimate professional fighter despite the criticism.
“‘This is not the first time Jake Paul has faced unfounded skepticism or outright disbelief as a professional athlete, and frankly, the claim that his bout must have been rigged is just the latest backhanded compliment to come his way,” said Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions. “From day one in this sport, people have doubted his abilities—unable to reconcile how someone with his background has accomplished so much in such a short time. Jake has not only proven himself repeatedly, but he has continuously set historic records that speak for themselves."
The Paul vs. Tyson fight may have fallen short on action but delivered massive numbers. With a $18.1 million gate — the highest ever for a U.S. fight outside Las Vegas — and over 108 million live viewers streaming globally on Netflix, the event proved to be a spectacle.
Derek Hough is getting in on the fun of past scenes from Dancing With the Stars going viral. In a video shared via Instagram on Monday, November 25, Hough, 39, reposted a clip of a confessional with season 6 partner Shannon Elizabeth from 2008. (The show no ...
Derek Hough is getting in on the fun of past scenes from Dancing With the Stars going viral. In a video shared via Instagram on Monday, November 25, Hough, 39, reposted a clip of a confessional with season 6 partner Shannon Elizabeth from 2008. (The show no longer ...
Paige DeSorbo and Craig Conover have not broken up and are still going strong, according to Amanda Batula and a few other close pals. The Summer House cast member and her Southern Charm beau are currently making things work amid their long-distance relationship, and according to Paige's friends, they have some immediate plans ...
She said yes… again! Bachelor Nation fans got to see fan-favorite couple Kaity Biggar and Zach Shallcross fall in love and get engaged on Season 27 of “The Bachelor.” As fans remember, Zach got down on one knee and asked Kaity to ...
The NFL season is inching closer and closer to the playoffs, meaning those who have had an opportunity to stand out this season have done exactly such. Two running backs, in particular, have been excellent while playing for entirely new franchises ...