Jake Paul and his production company, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) have fired back amid claims that his fight with Mike Tyson on Nov. 15 was rigged from the outset.
In a statement released via X, formerly Twitter, on Monday, the promotion vehemently denied any foul play, hoping to assuage fears and conspiracy theories that the fight’s outcome was already determined.
“Rigging a professional boxing match is a federal crime in the United States of America. Paul vs. Tyson was a professional match sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR),” the statement read. “Both fighters in good faith performed to the best of their abilities with the goal of winning the fight.”
The statement also pointed directly to claims circulating that the fighters had clauses within their contracts preventing outcomes such as knockouts, which circulated to the tune of hundreds of thousands of likes across social media.
Did Tyson hold back due to a rigged contract clause with Jake Paul? Sure seems so pic.twitter.com/7rLhzeKoJU
— FootBasket™.com (@FootBasket) November 16, 2024
? Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson - Proof that the fight was rigged, fake and Tyson was holding back throwing the fight for Money
— T R U T H P O L E (@Truthpolex) November 19, 2024
Busted#JakePaulMikeTyson #Jakepaul #MikeTyson #Youtube pic.twitter.com/4mgQIUHCHm
“There were absolutely no restrictions, contractual or otherwise, around either fighter,” said MVP’s statement. “Each boxer was able to use his full arsenal to win the fight. Any agreement to the contrary would violate TDLR boxing rules.”
Despite disputing the claims, fears have continued to swirl across social media.
MVP Promotions didn't just deny rigging the Tyson v Paul fight, they FIRMLY denied it. That changes everything. That's different.
— Apex Jones (@ApexJones22) November 25, 2024
That's like that scene from A Few Good Men ?? pic.twitter.com/FjjnjxfJg8
MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian, meanwhile, seemed to indicate much of the fear of match-fixing was based on a public disdain for Paul, who alongside his brother is no stranger to finding himself at the center of controversy.
“This is not the first time Jake Paul has faced unfounded skepticism or outright disbelief as a professional athlete, and frankly, the claim that his bout must have been rigged is just the latest backhanded compliment to come his way,” Bidarian said. “From day one in this sport, people have doubted his abilities – unable to reconcile how someone with his background has accomplished so much in such a short time.
“We embrace the doubt – it only fuels Jake to work harder and achieve greater success.”
A hit for sportsbooks, but not without wider discussion
While fans were left dissatisfied with the results of the matchup between Tyson and Paul, over three decades his junior, sportsbooks were plenty happy with the showdown and its result.
“Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight [was] the most-bet combat sport (boxing and MMA) in BetMGM history,” senior trader Alex Rella said. “Paul winning was a good outcome for the sportsbook.”
Meanwhile, DraftKings shared similar positive remarks, confirming that no other boxing match or MMA fight had ever received as much wagering at the online sportsbook.
“In terms of handle comparison, the fight would be on par with an NFL Monday night game,” Craig Mucklow, Caesars vice president of trading, said. “We knew there would be tremendous interest in the fight, as the betting suggested it was a generational matchup in customer demographics. Those old enough to remember a prime Mike Tyson got to live the nostalgia one last time, while those not old enough to know 'Iron Mike' were firmly on the Jake Paul side of the counter.”
Books were also plenty pleased with Tyson’s disappointing showing, with 67% of wagers and 53% of the handle on the former Heavyweight Champion.
This all despite clamoring from some fans who felt the fight should have had bets voided given its ultimately uneven showing, on top of various local authorities not permitting betting on the fight at all – or only allowing so under the pretext of preventing illegal and black market betting in its place.
Also notable, Massachusetts Gaming Commission commissioner Eileen O’Brien and MCG chair Jordan Maynard seemed to suggest that rules around events such as these could be under scrutiny moving forward, with Maynard in particular supportive of a “broader view of changes that could come to these types of events in the future.”
