Claims that fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson was rigged are ‘incorrect and baseless,’ says promoter
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Jake Paul, left, and Mike Tyson hug after their heavyweight bout in Arlington, Texas. Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile/Getty Images
The promoter of Jake Paul’s recent boxing match against Mike Tyson has firmly rejected claims that the highly anticipated fight was rigged. The bout, which set a record as the most-streamed global sporting event in history, concluded with Paul winning by unanimous decision after eight two-minute rounds. Judges scored the fight 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73 in favor of the YouTuber-turned-boxer, a result that sparked controversy and claims of manipulation.
Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), the promotional company co-founded by Paul, issued a statement on Monday refuting the allegations. The statement called such claims “incorrect and baseless” and labeled them “illogical and inane.” MVP emphasized that both Paul and Tyson performed to the best of their abilities, with no restrictions placed on either fighter. “Both fighters in good faith performed to the best of their abilities with the goal of winning the fight,” the statement read. “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 Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR) boxing rules.”
The statement also addressed the speculation and trash talk that commonly surrounds high-profile sports events, noting that while commentary, jokes, and opinions are part of the spectacle, questioning the integrity of the fight itself was a disservice to the athletes and the sport. MVP further explained that such allegations were particularly absurd given the debut of a major partnership between Netflix, which streamed the event, and MVP. The event was promoted as a significant step into live professional sports for Netflix, and any violation of competition rules would undermine their legitimacy, the company argued.
The fight was a massive success commercially. It was streamed on Netflix and reached peak viewership of 65 million, setting a new record for the platform. Additionally, the event saw more than 72,000 attendees at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, generating a staggering $18.1 million in ticket sales—the highest ever for a U.S. fight outside of Las Vegas. The event also broke multiple betting records, with both BetMGM and ESPN BET reporting more money wagered on the fight than any previous combat event in their history, according to ESPN.
Despite the commercial success, the fight was not without its detractors. Boxing Hall of Famer and promoter Oscar De La Hoya was one of the loudest critics, publicly questioning the legitimacy of the outcome. In an Instagram post, De La Hoya stated, “Everyone is talking about how staged this fight was. I do believe it was scripted, and I believe that Tyson was certainly held back. Look, I’m a fighter, and I can see it. It goes on the record, and it was sanctioned, so Jake Paul paid to get the W on his record. For what? For your own personal satisfaction?”
Adding fuel to the fire, Paul’s own comments at the post-fight press conference raised further suspicions. The 27-year-old boxer admitted to “taking his foot off the gas,” stating that he wanted to entertain the fans but did not want to hurt Tyson, whom he felt was not fully prepared. “I definitely took my foot off the gas. 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, which many saw as a sign that the outcome had been manipulated.
In response to the criticism, Nakisa Bidarian, MVP’s other co-founder, defended Paul’s performance and questioned the doubters. He pointed out that this wasn’t the first time Jake Paul had faced skepticism about his boxing career, and the rigging accusations were merely a backhanded compliment to his boxing ability. “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,” Bidarian said.
As the dust settles on what was one of the most-watched boxing events in recent history, the controversy surrounding the legitimacy of the fight between Paul and Tyson is likely to persist. While MVP has strongly denied any wrongdoing, the boxing world remains divided, with critics questioning both the authenticity of the fight and the intentions behind Paul’s surprising comments. Despite the backlash, Paul’s victory stands, and his boxing career continues to evolve, with the 27-year-old boxer showing no signs of slowing down in his pursuit of further success in the ring.
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