Mike Tyson lost a unanimous decision in Friday’s boxing match against Jake Paul. But fans were mostly forgiving, lauding his courage to enter the ring at age 58.
The biggest loser on the night may have been Netflix, whose streaming, buffering and camera glitches were a technical knockout, frustrating fans trying to watch.
Still, the match drew 60,000 fans at the live event and countless millions watching around the world. If nothing else, it once again underlined the reasons that everyone slows down to view a highway wreck.
While no one expected the fight to be an artistic success, some claimed even that low bar wasn’t reached in the match.
In post-fight critiques of the actual fight, Earvin “Magic” Johnson was particularly brutal in his assessment, saying the match was “not great for boxing.”
Pundit Piers Morgan Prime was a little more forgiving, allowing that it was amazing Tyson lasted to the end.
“@MikeTyson would have destroyed @jakepaul in 90 seconds,” Morgan posted. “A 58yr-old Tyson went 8 rounds against a much fitter and very capable boxer half his age. Mock him all you like, but Mike’s got the heart of a lion, balls of steel, and will always be an absolute legend.”
Barstool Sports head Dave Portnoy took a more cynical approach to the spectacle.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith put it all in perspective.
But it was left to former “The View” cohost Meghan McCain to cap the comments, referring to an unfortunate shot of Mike Tyson taken in the locker room before the fight.
