A fabricated fight script, purporting to detail the exact round Jake Paul would knock out Mike Tyson, spread across social media in the hours before the pair's heavily anticipated bout last year.
The document, which bore a striking resemblance to a similar fake script circulated before Paul's fight with Tommy Fury, outlined a round-by-round breakdown culminating in a fifth-round stoppage victory for the YouTube star.
The Build-Up to the Texas Showdown
The incident occurred ahead of the November 2024 heavyweight clash at the AT&T Stadium in Texas. Mike Tyson, then aged 58, faced the significantly younger Jake Paul in a contest that captured global attention.
In the days leading up to the fight, bookmakers slashed Tyson's odds, moving him from clear underdog to a more competitive position. This shift was notably accelerated after the boxing legend slapped Paul during a tense face-off, fuelling speculation about his enduring power.
Both fighters had publicly vowed to secure a knockout, setting the stage for the leaked script's dramatic narrative to find a receptive audience online.
Contents of the Bogus Breakdown
The detailed script, which some viewers mistakenly believed implied the fight was rigged, painted a vivid picture of the fictional bout.
It described an aggressive start from Tyson in Round 1, using his classic bob-and-weave style, with Paul relying on mobility and speed. By Round 2, Tyson was said to land a powerful body shot, but Paul's stamina was presented as a key advantage.
The narrative claimed Paul would gain confidence in the third, stunning Tyson with a right cross. Round 4 allegedly saw fatigue setting in for the veteran, with Paul opening a cut. The script culminated in a decisive fifth-round knockout, where Paul would floor a tired Tyson with a perfectly timed right hand.
The reality was starkly different. The actual fight went the full eight-round distance, with Jake Paul ultimately awarded a unanimous decision victory in a contest that many fans felt failed to meet lofty expectations.
A Pattern of Pre-Fight Fabrications
This was not an isolated incident in the world of Jake Paul's boxing promotions. The circulation of such material mirrors the fake script shared before his fight with Tommy Fury in 2023, indicating a recurring pattern where sensational, fabricated documents generate buzz online.
These scripts typically leverage the narrative of an older legend being systematically broken down by a younger, social-media-savvy opponent, a storyline that generates significant engagement and debate among fans.
While entertaining for some, the spread of this content blurs lines for casual observers, potentially creating unfounded suspicions about the sport's integrity. The fight's outcome, which deviated completely from the leaked script's prediction, serves as a clear reminder to treat such online leaks with extreme scepticism.
