Netflix unveiled some jaw-dropping viewership numbers after the historic Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing event.
It was a history-making night of business for Jake Paul and Mike Tyson, as Netflix announced shortly after the event.
Paul defeated the 58-year-old Tyson by unanimous decision for his fifth consecutive win in boxing. He has lofty expectations for his next boxing chapters, including a potential clash with another all-time great combatant.
The slow-paced fight between Paul and Tyson attracted a lot of criticism on social media, although Paul recently admitted he took it easy on Tyson in the later rounds.
Despite the criticism and numerous controversies associated with the Paul vs. Tyson booking, the fight attained a record-shattering viewership around the world as intrigued fans watched the action unfold.
In a recent press release, Netflix announced that 60 million households tuned in globally for the event. The card topped at 65 million concurrent streams and was the No. 1 trending topic on X on Friday.
Paul vs. Tyson is the biggest boxing gate, outside of Las Vegas, in U.S. sports history. According to Netflix, the gate surpassed $18 million, doubling the previous Texas gate record set by boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez.
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson streamed by 65 million concurrent global viewership
Joe Hand Promotions, a programming distributor to thousands of bars and restaurants in the U.S., broadcasted Paul vs. Tyson at over 6,000 U.S. venues. It’s the largest commercial distribution in the company’s half-century history.
Total viewership for Paul vs. Tyson is expected to be released next week.
In addition to Netflix’s press release, Paul touted the event’s success on his social media pages.
“Crushed every viewership record for boxing since the advent of cable. What an accomplishment,” Paul said in an Instagram post. “And over 50M households saw the best of women’s boxing on display.
“That’s the biggest win. We are boxing.”
In a classy response, Tyson responded to Paul’s post.
“Jake we made history together, broke records and inspired people. I’m honored,” Tyson commented.
The Paul vs. Tyson co-main event, Amanda Serrano vs. Katie Taylor 2, delivered an instant classic. The fight is expected to achieve the most-watched professional women’s sporting event in U.S. history.
Mike Tyson’s boxing comeback attracted a mammoth global audience
AT&T Stadium in Dallas hosted 72.3k attendees for Paul vs. Tyson. The card attracted a slew of top-level celebrities, including former NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal and boxing legends Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield.
The news is exciting for Paul and his team, in particular, after critics such as UFC CEO Dana White have questioned Paul’s business acumen and marketability. Paul’s two fights with former UFC champion Tyron Woodley received a prominent audience for both events.
Tyson returned to the ring in a professional setting for the first time since 2005. The 58-year-old’s comeback came after an exhibition against Roy Jones Jr. in 2020, with Paul on the undercard.
As for Paul, he returned after recent wins over former UFC superstar Nate Diaz and Bare Knuckle FC standout Mike Perry. He’s targeting a return to the ring next year.