In a stunning turn of events, boxing legend Mike Tyson’s much-anticipated comeback fight against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul not only disappointed fans but also crashed the streaming giant Netflix. The 58-year-old former heavyweight champion’s return to the ring after a nearly two-decade absence generated massive public interest, but his lackluster performance left viewers and experts alike unimpressed.
Tyson’s Underwhelming Performance
Despite the immense hype surrounding the fight, Tyson looked every bit his age as he struggled through eight dreary rounds against the 27-year-old Paul. Wearing a compression sleeve on his right knee and appearing completely exhausted after the first round, Tyson managed to connect with a mere 18 punches throughout the entire fight.
NBA legend Magic Johnson summed up the sentiment of many viewers, tweeting, “Just sad. I cut it off because I couldn’t watch anymore. It’s sad to see Mike Tyson like this.” Four-weight boxing champion Terence Crawford was equally unimpressed, stating, “He looked like trash, to train that long and only throw 97 punches the whole fight is crazy.”
Netflix’s Server Crash
While Tyson’s performance fell flat, the event itself was a massive draw, attracting over 120 million virtual viewers on Netflix. However, the streaming platform struggled to handle the unprecedented traffic, with its servers crashing during the co-feature bout between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano.
Nearly 100,000 users reported network issues, driving frustrated viewers to social media to vent their frustrations. The technical problems persisted into the main event, prompting the hashtag #NetflixCrash to trend on X (formerly Twitter) and Bluesky.
A Lucrative but Rocky Showing
Despite the technical issues and disappointing main event, the fight was a financial success. Promoted by Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions company, the live gate shattered records for the largest US boxing gate outside of Las Vegas and nearly doubled the previous Texas mark for a boxing or MMA event.
“This is the biggest event. Over 120 million people on Netflix. We crashed the site,” Paul boasted after the fight.
However, the event served as a rocky debut for Netflix’s live sports ambitions, which are central to its plans for growing its nascent advertising business. The streaming giant is set to broadcast NFL games and WWE’s Raw franchise in the coming months, making the server crash a concerning precedent.
The Future of Tyson and Boxing
Mike Tyson’s comeback fight raises questions about the future of boxing and the role of aging champions. While the event generated massive interest, the quality of the fight itself left much to be desired. It remains to be seen whether this will be Tyson’s final bow or if he will attempt another comeback in the future.
For now, the boxing world is left to reflect on a night that promised much but ultimately fell short of expectations. As one fan put it, “Mad at myself for staying awake for that. I know better.” It’s a sentiment likely shared by many who tuned in hoping to see a glimpse of the Mike Tyson of old, only to be confronted with the harsh reality of time’s undefeated march.
