Friday night’s highly anticipated boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul captivated audiences worldwide, solidifying Netflix’s first foray into live sports streaming as a major success.
The streaming giant announced Saturday that 60 million households globally tuned in to watch YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, 27, secure a unanimous decision victory over 58-year-old former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Taylor-Serrano Co-Main Event Breaks Records
The co-main event, featuring Katie Taylor defending her undisputed women’s lightweight championship against Amanda Serrano, attracted 50 million households worldwide, according to Netflix. This likely sets a record as the most-watched professional women’s sporting event in U.S. history.
For context, the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl overtime win against the San Francisco 49ers averaged 123.7 million viewers, making it the most-watched program in television history. Netflix, with its 280 million global subscribers, is clearly making strides into the sports streaming arena.
Streaming Issues Marred the Event
Despite the success, the event faced technical challenges. The website Down Detector reported that 85,000 users experienced outages or streaming issues, leading to widespread frustration on social media. Netflix acknowledged the hiccups, stating, “The boxing mega-event dominated social media, shattered records, and even had our buffering systems on the ropes.”
Tyson and Paul Reflect on the Fight
While the Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano match was deemed the fight of the night, Tyson’s return to the ring drew millions of fans.
Tyson expressed gratitude on social media, despite his loss:
“This is one of those situations where you lose but still win. No regrets stepping into the ring one last time. After a severe health scare in June—losing half my blood and 25 pounds—I fought to get healthy and finish 8 rounds with a fighter half my age in front of a packed stadium. Thank you.”
Tyson had previously postponed the fight, originally scheduled for July 20, due to an ulcer flare-up over the summer.
Jake Paul also shared his appreciation, writing:
“Thank you to every fighter, Netflix, Jerry Jones, my MVP team, and the legend Mike Tyson for sharing the ring with me. Above all, thank you, God.”
Netflix Expands into Live Sports
Following this groundbreaking event, Netflix plans to broadcast two NFL games on Christmas Day and begin streaming WWE “Raw” on January 6, marking its growing commitment to live sports entertainment.
