Tyson, Jake Paul earn $60m for fight

Youtuber Jake Paul and Mike Tyson raked in a combined $60m from their exhibition bout at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with Paul earning $40m and Tyson pocketing $20m after the YouTuber-turned-boxer secured a unanimous decision victory over the 58-year-old former heavyweight champion.

Paul, 27, dominated the eight-round contest, winning by wide margins on all three scorecards — 80-72, 79-73 and 79-73 — as Tyson struggled to land meaningful punches throughout the fight.

The social media sensation, who co-promoted the event through his Most Valuable Promotions company alongside Netflix, lived up to his pre-fight declaration of making $40m while defeating a legend. His earnings were bolstered by his promotional role in the event that generated $17.8m in gate receipts with over 70,000 fans in attendance.

Ticket prices for the spectacle ranged from $69 for upper mezzanine seats to $32,392 for prime floor positions, according to Vivid Seats, while betting action saw individual wagers as high as $500,000, with Paul entering as the -200 favourite against Tyson’s +160 odds.

For Tyson, his $20m purse marked a significant payday in his return to the ring, nearly two decades after his last professional fight. The sum, while substantial, pales in comparison to his career earnings of $400m and his historic 1988 bout against Michael Spinks, where he earned $20m — equivalent to approximately $53m in today’s value.

The event, initially scheduled for July 20 but postponed due to Tyson’s health scare in May, drew parallels with the 2017 crossover bout between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor, which saw the fighters earn $100m and $30m respectively.

Paul, whose net worth stands at $80m, enhanced his undefeated record against high-profile opponents while entertaining the crowd with his “El Gallo de Dorado” (The Golden Rooster) persona, complete with a rooster hat and red-feathered skirt during open training sessions.