Sylvester Stallone, most recently seen in Tulsa King, has shed new light on an ongoing debate about the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight. Through a candid Instagram post, he claimed that Tyson deliberately didn't even try during the match.
Stallone did speak about Tyson as a legend and offered obscure praise that raised questions about the validity of the boxing match.
Already, this live-streamed match (which resulted in Jake Paul's win) has acted as a magnet for criticism. Since Sylvester Stallone suggested Tyson might have pulled his punches out of restraint or strategy instead of age-related decline, an already controversial event was given a finer nail.
Stallone's comments are now being picked apart by fans and analysts alike, praising Tyson's sportsmanship while others attack the legitimacy of the fight.
Sylvester Stallone's Instagram post suggests Tyson was holding back
On November 19, 2024, Sylvester Stallone took to Instagram to praise Tyson's restraint and the athlete's legacy while implying through the backdoor that Jake Paul would never have won if Tyson had actually fought him.
“Mike gave one of the great Oscar-winning performances of all time,” Stallone wrote.
Sylvester Stallone implied that Tyson had deliberately opted out of unleashing all his might on his opponent.
He further added, “Jake, be grateful, HE SPARED YOUR LIFE!”
Indeed, Stallone's comments resonate well with the notion that Tyson, known for his vicious power, was unusually measured during the match. Fans believe this might be due to Tyson's aging or that the match felt more like an exhibition. Others say it is a result of Tyson's respect for his opponent or a tactical approach.
Sylvester Stallone's tribute to Tyson as "a gladiator" and "champion of champions" underlines the respect Tyson carries, even in the twilight of his career.
Why was Mike Tyson’s performance subpar?
Much discussion has been over Mike Tyson's performance. The former heavyweight champion stepped into the ring for the first time since he boxed Roy Jones Jr. This was in a match in 2020 at 58. Though Tyson is now even older, he showed facets of his legendary skills; he took punches seriously.
However, his punches were not as explosive, and certain critics accused him of having lost some of that explosiveness through physical limitations or choice. Tyson, however, hasn't said a word regarding the comment by Sylvester Stallone.
His focus has been on celebrating the sport and the platform that fights like these offer younger fighters like Jake Paul, so he didn't care much about winning per se.
Tyson's fight, scored 80–72, 79–73, and 79–73 in Paul's favor, indeed reflected his improvement in terms of technical elements but left purists sharply divided over the authenticity of Tyson's approach.
Is the Jake Paul effect eroding boxing’s integrity?
Jake Paul, now sporting an 11-1 record, has become a lightning rod in the boxing world. Critics see this celebrity-fueled rise as watering down competitive integrity for the sport; supporters see him revitalizing attention towards the sport.
The latest victory over Tyson—a seasoned veteran—has only compounded those debates. Sylvester Stallone's statement that Tyson perhaps did pull back further adds to the fire that this was more of a show rather than a serious contest.
But, at the same time, the fact that Paul could go the full eight rounds with the like of Tyson has earned him some begrudging respect from the boxing circles.
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The fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson is available on Netflix after the notoriously glitchy live-stream.
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