Fans eagerly tuned in for the highly anticipated showdown between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson last night, expecting an epic match. But while the fighters were primed, Netflix was caught off guard. On November 15th, subscribers settled in for a free broadcast that promised a night of entertainment but delivered a night of annoying technical chaos.
The $352 billion streaming giant tumbled and fumbled big time with buffering screens and connection errors instead of showcasing the boxing action. Frustrated fans were left reloading and refreshing, throughout the night. Here is what happened!
Netflix Struggles with Tech Failures During Paul vs. Tyson Showdown
Millions of fans rushed to Netflix for the free stream of the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight, expecting a night full of punches.
Tyson, the legend, was making his long-awaited return to the ring after 19 years, going up against one of the most famous YouTubers Jake Paul in front of 70,000 fans at AT&T Stadium.
The fight is most definitely one of the biggest and most controversial of all time. However, Netflix’s broadcast was far from flawless. Fans quickly took to X.com, complaining about grainy images, constant buffering, and freezing, turning the live event into a frustrating experience. Here is what they had to say,
the Netflix servers rn: pic.twitter.com/yygzpor8Gh
— MacMally 🍀 (@MacMallyMMA) November 16, 2024
It was going well until it wasn’t. The buffering, lagging and freezing has become extremely annoying. Netflix has to figure this out. #PaulTyson
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) November 16, 2024
This is how long it takes @netflix to buffer for #PaulTyson pic.twitter.com/k3dw4zOQSM
— Mike (@MikeThomas1980) November 16, 2024
Who else trying to watch the fight but Netflix keeps freezing on 25% #NetflixBoxing #PaulTyson pic.twitter.com/puIdgztbHW
— Zitro Saicam (@ZitroSaicam) November 16, 2024
How are y’all gonna have the biggest fight of the year on your platform & y’all stream can’t go longer than 5 minutes without buffering… WTF Netflix #PaulTyson #NetflixFight pic.twitter.com/yN6ahgFwqk
— Everybody Be Wilin (@everybodywilin) November 16, 2024
Audio issues also plagued the broadcast, with Evander Holyfield unable to hear presenter Kate Abdo through his earpiece, leaving the commentary in disarray. To add to the chaos, Jerry Jones had to borrow Michael Irvin’s microphone after his own malfunctioned mid-broadcast. Despite the high stakes in the ring, it was most certainly Netflix’s tech issues that stole the show.
How Much Are Jake Paul and Mike Tyson Pocketing from This Fight?
The fight was a big deal, and Netflix should have been more prepared. Sure, people might cut them some slack since it was their first-ever live boxing event, but it’s the kind of thing they should’ve ironed out beforehand. After all, this was a major moment for the streaming giant.
As for the money, the promoters are keeping Tyson’s earnings under wraps, but sources like DraftKings Network estimate he’ll pocket around $20 million for Friday’s fight.
Jake Paul, on the other hand, is set to earn a hefty $40 million, double what Tyson is expected to make. So while Netflix might have dropped the ball on the tech side, at least both fighters are walking away with a knockout paycheck.
Who Left the Ring as Champion?
The fight was a close one, with Jake Paul delivering a strong last round, landing solid punches on Tyson. Although Tyson tried to counter, Paul was quick on his feet, evading most of his blows. Paul delivered a series of hooks, that visibly shook Tyson in the round. But at the end, in a classy gesture, Paul bowed to Tyson showing respect to the boxing legend.
All three judges gave the nod to Paul, with scores of 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73 as reported by ESPN.
No matter the outcome, watching the 58-year-old boxing legend, despite his health scares and age, transform back into his prime form for a brief moment is something words can’t truly capture.
The way he moved, the power in his punches, and the grit he showed in the ring reminded everyone why he’s still a legend, even if his body isn’t quite what it used to be. It reminded everyone that some legends never truly fade!
Jake Paul versus Mike Tyson is streaming now on Netflix.
