Tyson defeated by YouTuber Paul in heavyweight comeback

Mike Tyson's highly anticipated return to boxing ended in a one-sided loss on Friday, as YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul cruised to a unanimous decision victory against the heavyweight legend in Texas.

The 58-year-old Tyson struggled to land any significant punches during the eight-round bout at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Paul dominated the fight, winning all three judges' scorecards by wide margins—80-72, 79-73, and 79-73.

Paul, 27, used his superior speed and movement to control Tyson throughout the fight, landing a flurry of punches in the third round that left the former undisputed heavyweight champion in trouble.

Despite his promise to knock out Tyson during Thursday's heated weigh-in, where Tyson slapped him across the face, Paul was unable to land the knockout blow.

Tyson, on the other hand, appeared to be well past his prime, managing to land only a few meaningful punches during the fight, which was watched by around 70,000 live spectators, with millions more tuning in worldwide.

Final stats showed that Tyson connected with just 18 of 97 punches thrown, while Paul landed 78 of 278 punches.

As the final seconds of the eighth round ticked away, Paul even took a moment to bow in respect to Tyson before the bell rang.

"First and foremost, Mike Tyson, it's such an honor. Let's give it up for Mike," Paul said after the fight, embracing Tyson. "He's the greatest to ever do it. He's the GOAT, he's a legend. I'm inspired by him and we wouldn't be here today without him."

"This man is an icon, and it's just an honor to be able to fight him. He's obviously the toughest, baddest man on the planet; it was really tough like I expected it to be."

**'I Came to Fight'**

Tyson, however, expressed satisfaction with his performance despite the lopsided result. "I came to fight," he said. "I didn't prove nothing to anybody, only to myself... I'm just happy with what I can do."

Although Tyson fought with a brace on his right knee, he insisted it did not affect his performance. "I can't use that as an excuse. If I did, I wouldn't be in here," he said.

Tyson also praised Paul, who has transitioned his career from a popular YouTuber to a successful boxer, earning lucrative bouts like Friday's event, which was backed by Netflix. 

"He's a very good fighter," Tyson said, leaving open the possibility that he may return to the ring. "I don't know. It depends on the situation," Tyson added. When asked if this was his last fight, he responded, "I don't think so."

Tyson was reportedly paid $20 million for the fight, which came 19 years after his last professional bout in 2005, a defeat to Kevin McBride.

The return of the former heavyweight champion had been met with skepticism from the boxing world, which considered the contest more of a circus than a legitimate fight, with concerns about Tyson's health and the risk of injury.

Tyson had been forced to postpone the fight in May after experiencing a medical scare during a flight. He later revealed that he had vomited blood due to an ulcer flare-up.

However, Tyson dismissed health concerns, suggesting his critics were mostly envious of his enduring box-office appeal.

In his walk to the ring on Friday, Tyson tried to channel the dominance of his 1980s prime, stepping into the arena in his iconic black trunks and poncho. Yet, despite his efforts to revive his former self, Paul comfortably kept Tyson at bay throughout the bout.