Jake Paul's victory over Mike Tyson in their November fight was fixed, a friend of the boxing legend alleges.
Paul beat Tyson by unanimous decision in Texas in front of 70,000 fans and millions more watching Netflix in what was largely a humdrum affair.
Iron Mike, 58, had suffered life-threatening health problems in the months leading up to the fight and, despite a promising first round, only landed 18 punches against a man 31 years his junior. Paul later claimed that he had postponed removing the icon out of respect.
This was his great return to professional boxing, 19 years after his retirement, and it had to be noted as a seventh defeat in a formidable ledger that tells stories of six world heavyweight titles.
Fan theories ran rampant during the build-up to and after the fight that it had been rigged in Paul's favor, and now it appears that Adam 'Pacman' Jones, a former NFL star and friend of Tyson, believes them.
“I really 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.
Jake Paul's victory over Mike Tyson was 'rigged', according to a friend of the legendary boxer
Paul continues by unanimous decision, achieving victory over a man 31 years his senior in Texas.
Adam 'Pacman' Jones, former NFL star and friend of Tyson, says Paul told the icon to slow down in the first round.
'I thought his feet were up there?' No, I didn't. He was a little wobbly on his feet.
“I like Mike Tyson. I love Mike Tyson. I love watching a real fight with Mike Tyson.”
YouTuber-turned-puncher Paul has been no stranger to fight-fixing accusations 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 loss coming at the hands of Tommy Fury via a controversial split decision in February 2023.
Given his age and Tyson's health problems, it seemed natural that the fight would go one way.
Tyson had already won 45 fights and had 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 ulcer attack while on a plane forced the 58-year-old to delay the fight.
At the time, Tyson said, “I asked the doctor, 'Am I going to die?'
Tyson suffered serious health problems in the lead-up to the fight and later said that competing counted as a victory for him.
'I lost 25 pounds in 11 days. I couldn't eat. Liquids only. Every time I went to the bathroom I smelled like tar.
'All my coordination, stamina, everything was shaken upon returning. It was already at its peak. I could have fought him that day. Now I have to start from scratch. I had about eight blood transfusions. The doctor said I lost half of my blood. I almost died.'
Less than 24 hours after the fight, he wrote on X: 'This is one of those situations where you lost but you still win. I'm grateful for last night. I don't regret getting into the ring for the last time.
'I almost died in June. He had 8 blood transfusions. I lost half my blood and 25 pounds in the hospital and had to fight to get myself back together to fight, so I won.
“For my children to see me go toe-to-toe and finish eight rounds with a talented fighter half my age in front of a packed Dallas Cowboys stadium is an experience 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 in 1986, has struggled with a number of health problems in recent years.
Despite showing his enduring class in an exhibition fight against Roy Jones Jr in 2020, Tyson has persistently battled chronic knee and back problems.
Two years ago, he had a severe episode of sciatica that left him wheelchair-bound and later using a cane.