Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson NETFLIX fight falls far short of Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium sellout
Despite over a month since the fight's completion, Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson continues to make news, mostly for the wrong reasons.
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Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fails to sell out Cowboys' AT&T Stadium (Source: X)
The Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson Netflix-theme debacle continues to roll in every other form, every other week. Paul and his MVP said it welcomed the allegation and doubt against what it knows to be a globally successful phenomenon. However, seemingly, the projected sellout at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium home ground was far less.
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson headlined MVP’s Netflix boxing event from the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium. The ‘Problem Child’ carried the action with feints and long-range lefts against a 58-year-old “Iron”. He logged an easy decision (80-72, 79-73, 79-73) over him; Tyson’s return did not have that ‘one last flare’ people had hoped. Many billed it as a rigged fight to make ‘Problem Child’ look good on the pro-sanction cards. Now there’s more.
Less than 60,000 tickets were on sale for last month’s Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. That is according to documents obtained by USA TODAY Sports. Around 6,500 tickets were given away, according to the documents, as the Netflix heavyweight bout fell short of expectations. Once-WBA, WBC, and IBF beltholder Mike Tyson’s return streamed to 60 million households! It’s an epic scale by itself.
Thank you to the fans. History made pic.twitter.com/jtq5ZIcZ4M
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) December 16, 2024
Paul repeatedly said that the fight would draw 90,000 to AT&T Stadium. That would have required selling 10,000 standing tickets in the 80,000-seat venue. But only 59,666 tickets were on sale and another 6,437 went out. In all, 66,103 tickets according to the fight’s promoter, Holden Boxing LLC. It’s good ‘El Gallo de Dorado’ Paul is going full pro because the influencer fandom plus Tyson plus Cowboy’s trifecta couldn’t garner enough footfall. Classic Boxing 1; crossover gimmicky boxing 0.
What went wrong at Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson?
While the concurrent streams peaked at 65 million, the fight did not magnet the nostalgia. So what did go wrong? Other than the lopsided beatdown of Mike Tyson himself? Not quite a lot. But sales allocation was one of them. Holden Boxing worked for Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), co-founded by Paul, and partnered with Netflix.
Ticket sales totaled $18.1 million. According to MVP, this was more than any other US boxing event outside of Nevada. A total of $22 million – including $3.6 million in ticket giveaways – was subject to state tax. m
However, the Texas Pro sanction was not priced right. Paul and Nakisa Bidarian’s venture teamed up with Elevate to provide the first-ever $2 million VIP ticket package. It started quite a “eat the rich” sentiment.
Jake Paul fighting Tyson in his return was meant for old-school nostalgic fans and new ones. But it instead lined up with packages for the neo-influencer masses. The MVP Owner’s Experience package, a mishmash with 2 ringside commission driver seats, yet aiming at a neo-influencer mass. It was all a bit too much into one. MVP slashed ticket prices twice to make the gate!
For a combat sports event, Texas taxes the gross receipts amount on ticket sales at a rate of 3%, thus resulting in a tax bill of approximately $650,000, according to the tax report. None of what comes after sets a high bar at Cowboys’ AT&T.
The footfall, the windfall other than online streaming (turbulent one at that), and the lack of nostalgia. None were it for the Paul-Tyson Netflix fight. Now, it shows, with new problems rising every week.
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