Mike Tyson and Jake Paul will take centre stage tonight but there is plenty of action on the undercard, including a rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano
Mike Tyson and Jake Paul will take centre stage tonight but there is plenty of action on the undercard, including a rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano Mike Tyson and Jake Paul will take centre stage tonight but there is plenty of action on the undercard, including a rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano
Mike Tyson and Jake Paul spent months trading insults – but in the end, a first professional fight in 19 years was a step too far for the former undisputed world heavyweight champion.
‘Iron Mike’ returned to the ring at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas, but on a night where Netflix streams crashed, fans in the stadium walked out during the main event – with YouTube star Paul comfortably beating the 58-year-old.
Tyson insisted post-fight: “I am happy. I knew he was a good fighter. I knew he was prepared. I didn’t prove nothing to anybody, only to myself. I am just happy with what I can do.” And he even hinted he could step in the ring again, while labelling Paul a “very good fighter”.
On the undercard, the best fight of the night was certainly the rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, two years after the Irish star edged out her rival in New York. Here are all the results from the undercard and main event…
Bruce Carrington bt Dana Coolwell via UD
Rising featherweight star Bruce Carrington vowed to show why he is so highly rated as he took on Australia’s Dana Coolwell. Hailing from New York, he wanted to make it a double on the card for Brooklyn natives, alongside Mike Tyson. And after feeling each other out for the opening couple of rounds, it was Carrington who began to take the upper hand, dropping Coolwell in the fourth session.
He did so again in the final round but Coolwell beat the count on both occasions and ultimately, the New Yorker had to settle for a points win with the judges giving him every round, meaning they all scored the bout 80-70.
Lucas Bahdi bt Armando Casamonica via MD
Lucas Bahdi came into this fight on the back of a stunning KO of Ashton Sylve earlier this year while Armando Casamonica was a late replacement after Corey Marksman pulled out injured. It was Bahdi who took control of the fight after an initial feeling out period.
Casamonica had come in overweight, understandable given the short-notice nature of the fight, but didn’t look fatigued heading into the second half of the fight. And he took the fight to Badhi in impressive fashion in the dying stages. Both men sensed they needed a good last round but it was ultimately Bahdi who was given the nod by majority decision.
Shadasia Green bt Melinda Watpool via SD
Shadasia Green became a world champion at the second time of asking as she edged out Melinda Watpool. Watpool showed a readiness to engage throughout but it was Green who landed more power punches on her way to a split-decision victory. The judges ultimately scored the bout 97-93, 96-94, 94-96.
Neeraj Goyat bt Whindersson Nunes via UD
A somewhat bizarre fight between a seasoned professional – albeit one with a padded record – and a Brazilian social media star who had been fighting on the influencer boxing circuit. The fight, which was fought over just six rounds, proved to be as one-sided as the combatants’ records as Goyat dominated for the duration.
Both men had opened up by the fifth round as their defences went out the window. But neither man had the power to hurt the other as the fight went to the scorecards. The judges scored the bout 59-55, 60-54 and 60-54.
Mario Barrios DRAW Abel Ramos – Barrios retains title
Mario Barrios was supposed to enjoy a comfortable world title defence against a man who had lost three of his last five fights. But after struggling in the opening rounds, Abel Ramos dropped the champion in the sixth session with successive right hands. Barrios made it to the end of the round before a back-and-forth second half of the fight. One judge gave Ramos the nod by one round, one gave Barrios the fight by a ludicrous six rounds while the final judge scored the contest a draw.
Katie Taylor bt Amanda Serrano via UD
Katie Taylor was booed as she defeated Amanda Serrano for a second time after another instant classic. The two woman had served up a stunning first fight two years ago and this was no different. Serrano started the stronger but suffered a cut towards the halfway mark. Taylor began to take control but was deducted a point for repeatedly leading with her head – but the three judges all scored the fight 95-94 in her favour, much to the disgust of the Dallas crowd.
Jake Paul bt Mike Tyson via UD
Jake Paul failed to knock out Mike Tyson as the YouTuber was taken the distance by the returning heavyweight legend. Paul had promised to “kill” Tyson but struggled to land his blows, winning every round on two of the three judges’ scorecards. The crowd booed both men from the halfway point and hundreds flooded out of the arena without knowing the result of the bout.
Mirror – Sport
