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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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3. Tour de France – 3.5 billion
The Tour de France is not only the most prestigious cycling race in the world, but it draws an impressive audience.
According to race organisers, 3.5 billion people in 190 countries watch the Tour de France each year, with 12 million roadside spectators.
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2. Olympic Games – 4.7 billion
The Summer Olympics is one of the biggest sporting spectacles on the planet as athletes from 206 countries gather in one place to compete.
As for the most watched Games, Beijing 2008 racked up a global audience of 4.7 billion people over the two week coverage.
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1. World Cup – 5.4 billion
And unsurprisingly, top of the pile is the most recent Qatar World Cup in 2022 as Lionel Messi became the GOAT as he took on Kylian Mbappe.
And it makes sense too, as Argentina’s penalty shootout victory over France, after a 3-3 draw, is widely considered as the greatest ever final.
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