For months before the fight between legendary champ Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, the two repeatedly argued that they were not engaging in a gimmick match.
It was real, they said. They were both going to go after each other. Hard.
There were signs, of course. Several slow-motion videos on social media appear to show Paul and Tyson pulling back over concerns they could have hit the other too hard. Then there was Jake’s bow with 10 seconds remaining in the final round instead of the two trying to score knockout punches as they had both predicted before the fight.
The “Problem Child” even admitted in interviews that he “definitely” pulled his punches, fearing he could “hurt someone that didn’t need to be hurt.”
But now, famous DJ Whoo Kid is adding to the controversy, suggesting the two fighters had a quiet legal agreement not to hurt each other.
Mike Tyson-Jake Paul Fight Rigged?
DJ Whoo Kid claims he spoke to Jake Paul before he stepped into the ring with Mike Tyson and the fighter revealed they had an agreement not to hit hard.
NJ.com flat-out suggests the comments are an accusation that the fight was “rigged.”
“Saturday, Jake Paul came and I talked to him,” Mr. Whoo Kid said in a social media video. “This is the problem. This is what happened. Legally, they each cannot go at each other hard because if Mike hits Jake Paul, like really hit him. … He still has it.”
“If Mike Tyson hit Jake Paul, Jake Paul would die. If he went all in,” Kid continued. “If Jake Paul would hit Mike Tyson I think because of Mike Tyson’s age, he would kill Mike Tyson.”
“So the rules were that they’ve got to chill. That’s what I heard. They both had to chill.”
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Just Allegations
Granted, it’s impossible to know if what the good DJ is saying is his own speculation or if that is what Paul actually told him. Or he just heard it from somewhere else. If it’s the latter, though, that would be an outrage. Especially considering how many people paid for tickets and tuned into the fight.
Some poor fans even paid $2 million to be up close and personal.
The bout had been sanctioned as an official competitive boxing match rather than an exhibition by the Texas Commission.
If the Commission found out the fight was rigged, there could indeed be legal and professional repercussions for those involved.
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations, which sanctioned the fight, would likely investigate any claims of rigging. If proven true, this could lead to sanctions against the fighters and/or promoters, including fines, suspensions, or revocation of boxing licenses.
But it seems unlikely. First off, this is one person’s comment. Second, nobody has said the outcome was pre-determined. The alleged ‘rigging’ involves punches being pulled on both sides.
What do you think? Was the whole thing a sham?
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