Jake Paul v Mike Tyson becomes one of the most-watched sports events EVER as Netflix viewing figures revealed

1 month ago 8

MIKE TYSON’S final bow defeat to Jake Paul has became one of the most-watched sporting events EVER after it joined a star-studded list.

Friday night’s bout might have fallen short of expectations in the ring but far exceeded Netflix’s hopes as it peaked at 65 million streams.

two boxers in a ring with experian on the ropes

Mike Tyson’s underwhelming defeat to Jake Paul became one of the most watched sporting events ever[/caption]

a man in a red hat is surrounded by a crowd of people

The platform called it a “record-breaking night”, but the stream wasn’t without issues as Netflix struggled to keep up with the high demand.

Viewers complained of freezing, buffering and resolution problems, as Netflix showed the bout to its hundreds of millions of subscribers without charging extra fees.

But regardless of the technical issues faced, Paul’s victory over a boxing icon 31 years his senior, became the 10th most-watched sporting event ever.

So, which other events make up the top ten?

10. Jake Paul v Mike Tyson – 65 million

Paul, 27, beat Tyson, 58, in a lacklustre bout that consisted of eight two-minute rounds and just 375 combined punches thrown.

Tyson had momentary flashes early on but only went on to land 18 punches as Paul spent much of the fight dancing around.

Nonetheless, it amounted to a record-breaking night for Netflix as viewing peaked at 65 million concurrent streams.

It has knocked the 1978 World Series off it’s perch when the New York Yankees defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in a baseball classic.

a man in a blue shirt that says bylt on it

Paul and Tyson’s bout has joined a star-studded list of events[/caption]

Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson round-by-round

MIKE TYSON's long-awaited return to the ring didn't have the fairytale ending fight fans dreamed of.

SunSport’s boxing expert Wally Downes Jr recaps one of the drabbest and most forgettable nights in boxing history.

And he didn’t hold back, issuing a scathing assessment of social media sensation Jake Paul.

Round One

Paul says “I love you, Mike” just before the opening bell sounds. He quickly runs away and holds the boxing legend.

Tyson draws a big reaction from the crowd as he lands a jab and a good right hand.

Verdict: 10-9 Tyson

Round Two

Paul ran away in the opener and held – just like we thought he would.

Tommy Fury had it first and now Mike Tyson. It’s clever because Tyson will tire. Paul tags Tyson’s body with a straight right.

Tyson looks spent now. 180 seconds in and the fight looks over.

Verdict: 10-9 Tyson

Round Three

The legend cannot even keep his gumshield in. As expected it’s a waste of time. Paul has run away until the 58-year-old has tired.

Shooting ducks in a barrel now. Tyson might get hurt here. Paul lands a couple of clumsy shots and Tyson wobbles backwards.

Tragic after three.

Verdict: 10-9 Paul

Round Four

This is proper rubbish. The crowd are bored and boos are being heard.

This is just two tired big lumps going at it. One a legend, one a promoter.

Verdict 10-9 Paul

Round Five

Paul jabs the body and aims right for the head and another one-two clips the icon.

Tyson cannot keep his mouthpiece in, he is gasping for air. Paul lands a left hook but then so does Tyson.

Verdict 10-9 Paul

Round Six

Thank God these weren’t three-minute rounds. We are getting about four punches per round.

Tyson is gasping in the air but replays show a left hook did graze Paul’s beard.

Verdict 10-9 Paul

Round Seven

Tyson slips a jab and tries an uppercut. The commentator admits it has been a “sad” spectacle.

The AT&T stadium has been utterly stunk out. Paul is looking just as tired as Tyson.

Verdict 10-9 Paul

Round Eight

Go back to YouTube, Jake. You’re an excellent conman. But you’ve never been a boxer.

The Judges decide: 80-72, 79-73 and 79-73. I’m glad Tyson gets paid and has stayed safe.

But what a laughable performance from Paul to add to his stinker with Tommy Fury.

Verdict 10-9 Paul

SunSport’s final scorecard – 78-74 for Jake Paul

Click to read the full round-by-round breakdown.

9. Superbowl – 124 million

The 2023 Superbowl is the ninth most-watched sporting event ever as the Kansas City Chiefs fought back from 24-13 down to beat the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35.

It will be remembered as the time Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes powered through injury to win Super Bowl LVII.

a man wearing a hat that says champions on it

The 2023 Superbowl was the ninth most-watched sport event in telly history[/caption]

8. Rugby World Cup final – 857 million

Rugby is always a big draw but the most-watched or streamed event came five years ago when South Africa beat England 32-12.

The 2019 final broke the record for the most popular rugby tournament with more than 850 million people tuning in around the world.

a group of rugby players stand on the field with their arms crossed

England lost the 2019 World Cup final to South Africa[/caption]

7. Asian Games – 986 million

The Asian Games, also known as Asiad, is a multi-sport event held with 45 participating countries.

It is a surprising inclusion on the list, but the most densely populated region seems to hold their own mini-Olympics, with TV viewership averaging at 986 million every four years.

6. Muhammad Ali v Leon Spinks – 2 billion

The only boxing event to beat out Tyson’s blockbuster defeat to Paul came in Muhammad Ali’s rematch against Leon Spinks in 1978.

Ali was the last great fighter to perform on national TV before pay-per-view took over.

A record 2 billion viewers worldwide watched in 80 nations as The Greatest took a unanimous decision for the final victory of his career.

a boxing match between two men one of whom is wearing shorts with the word hawks on them

Ali took a unanimous decision for the final victory of his career[/caption]

5. Winter Olympics – 2.1 billion

The Winter Olympics puts many sports in the limelight that would not be widely seen otherwise.

The 2006 Games in Torino, Italy, were the most popular on the international stage.

4. Cricket World Cup – 1.6 billion

The worldwide TV audience for the 2019 Cricket World Cup final where England beat New Zealand at Lord’s in London clocked in at a record 1.6 billion people.

Not a surprising feat for one of the most loved sports on the planet – and 2019 wasn’t without controversy as the ODI final went to a Super Over as England won with the boundary count-back rule.