Mike Tyson’s friend claims fight with Jake Paul was ‘rigged’ – as he reveals the moment he believes proves bout was fixed
Mike Tyson lost to Jake Paul via unanimous decision in Arlington in November
The 59-year-old legend had fought his previous professional bout in 2005
Now Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones, a former NFL star, has added his voice to the mix
Jake Paul’s victory over Mike Tyson in their November scrap was fixed, a friend of the boxing legend has alleged.
Paul beat Tyson via unanimous decision in Texas in front of 70,000 fans and millions more watching over Netflix in what was largely a drab affair.
Iron Mike, 58, had suffered life-threatening health issues in the months preceding the fight and, despite a promising opening round, only landed 18 punches against a man 31 years his junior. Paul later claimed he had held off knocking out the icon out of respect.
Fan theories ran wild in the build-up and aftermath of the fight that it had been rigged in Paul’s favour, and now it seems that Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones, a former NFL star and friend of Tyson, buys into them.
‘I truly think the fight was rigged because if you look at the first round, Mike hit him with a couple and it looked like he told him to slow down,’ Jones told the Mirror US.
Jake Paul’s win over Mike Tyson was ‘rigged,’ according to a friend of the legendary boxer
Paul on via unanimous decision, taking victory over a man 31 years his senior in Texas
Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones, a former NFL star and Tyson’s friend, says Paul told the icon to slow down in the first round
‘Did I think his feet were all the way there? No, I didn’t. He was a little wobbly on the feet.
‘I like Mike Tyson. I love Mike Tyson. I love to see a real fight with Mike Tyson.’
YouTuber-turned-puncher Paul has been no stranger to fight-fixing allegations since turning professional in 2020, even if they are sometimes made in jest.
‘The Problem Child’ has won 11 of his 12 fights, with his only defeat coming from the fists of Tommy Fury via a controversial split decision in February 2023.
Tyson had already won 45 fights and won and regained two heavyweight belts by the time Paul was born in 1997.
The fight was originally supposed to take place in July but a stomach alcer flare-up while on a plane meant that the 58-year-old was advised to delay the contest.
At the time, Tyson said: ‘I asked the doctor, “Am I going to die?”
Tyson suffered serious health issues in the build-up to the fight and afterwards said that competing counted as victory for him
‘All my coordination, stamina, everything was hectic getting back. I was peaked already. I could have fought him that day. Now, I got to start from scratch. I had, like, eight blood transfusions. The doctor said I lost half my blood. I almost died.’
Less than 24 hours after the fight, he wrote on X: ‘This is one of those situations when you lost but still won. I’m grateful for last night. No regrets to get in ring one last time.
‘I almost died in June. Had 8 blood transfusions. Lost half my blood and 25lbs in hospital and had to fight to get healthy to fight so I won.
‘To have my children see me stand toe to toe and finish eights rounds with a talented fighter half my age in front of a packed Dallas Cowboy stadium is an experience that no man has the right to ask for. Thank you’.
Iron Mike, who became the youngest heavyweight title-holder at 20 years and four months old in 1986, has struggled with a series of health issues in recent years.
Despite showing his enduring class in an exhbition bout against Roy Jones Jr in 2020, Tyson has persistently battled with chronic knee and back problems.
Two years ago, he had a severe sciatica episode which left him in a wheelchair and then using a cane.
