Mike Tyson Knocks Out Jake Paul... in Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out

The fight that no one really asked for is happening soon: Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson. On November 15, this highly talked-about matchup will take place at AT&T Stadium, and Netflix is giving us a behind-the-scenes look at the lead-up in their new docuseries, Countdown: Paul vs. Tyson. The series promises to be a mix of training, hype, and drama. But in the first two episodes, Netflix introduces us to an unexpected twist—Jake Paul gets knocked out by Mike Tyson. Well, sort of.

In the very first moments of the docuseries, we don’t see the two fighters throwing punches at each other. Instead, we watch Jake Paul struggle to get an old-school Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) game to work. Paul, who’s only 27, finds himself blowing into the cartridge of Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!, the iconic video game released in 1987. With a series of bangs, taps, and a prayer to the Nintendo gods, the game finally starts. And from there, Paul gets a harsh reminder of just how unstoppable Tyson once was—both in real life and in the 8-bit world of Punch-Out!!.

It’s interesting how a quick, lighthearted moment in a documentary highlights the generational gap between Paul and Tyson. Paul, the YouTube star who’s built a career around his brash persona and online fights, seems unaware of Tyson’s dominance in the 1980s. He watches the game load up and comments on how the process of reviving an old cartridge “teaches you gratitude, kids, for the consoles we have today.” It’s clear that Paul is used to modern tech, but the idea of battling Mike Tyson in Punch-Out!! seems like a whole new world to him.

Once the game starts, Jake Paul gets a taste of what might happen when he steps into the real ring with the legendary fighter. Mike Tyson’s digital version doesn’t pull punches. In fact, Tyson's uppercut in the game is just as dangerous as it was in the ring during his prime. Paul’s frustration is palpable as he gets knocked out by Tyson again and again. It’s almost as if the game is giving Paul a preview of the brutal beating he might face when they step into the ring for their actual fight.

In the docuseries, Paul seems to get the point. After being knocked out multiple times, he acknowledges that Tyson’s speed and reaction time in the game are far beyond his own. He admits that he needs to work on his speed and reactions, and you can sense the underlying respect for Tyson’s skills. Paul even lets out a frustrated yell, clearly feeling humbled by the experience.

The moment is more than just a funny scene for the docuseries. It’s a reflection of the larger generational divide between the two men. To Jake Paul, Mike Tyson’s boxing greatness is something he’s only seen in YouTube highlight reels. Tyson’s peak was decades ago, and to Paul, it might just feel like a myth. But to older generations, Tyson was a legend—an unstoppable force in the ring, the kind of fighter who inspired fear in anyone who stepped up to him.

Tyson’s real-life career was one of the most terrifying in boxing history. In 1987, at the age of 21, he became the youngest undisputed heavyweight champion. At the time, his record was a perfect 31-0, and his reputation was built on brutal knockouts. His punches were fast, powerful, and nearly impossible to avoid. This made him not only a real-life nightmare for opponents but also the most feared boss in the Punch-Out!! video game.

Released just two months after Tyson became champion, the game made him a terror in the world of 8-bit gaming. His speed and the power of his uppercut were unmatched in the game, making him one of the hardest bosses to defeat. In fact, people still share stories on Reddit about how they struggled to beat Tyson in *Punch-Out!!*—even in 2023, decades after the game’s release.

Fast forward to today, and Tyson is 58 years old, and much further removed from his peak as a boxer. But the fight with Jake Paul is still happening. Despite a recent health scare that postponed the fight, Tyson is still regarded as a dangerous man in the ring, even if he’s no longer in his prime. For Paul, this fight is another chance to prove himself as a serious boxer, even though he has no experience fighting actual professional boxers.

As the Countdown series plays out, it seems like Tyson’s presence, both in the game and in real life, looms large. Jake Paul may have underestimated just how tough Tyson was in his prime, and the game’s brutal uppercut offers a reminder of what might happen if he’s not prepared. Tyson may not be the unbeatable fighter he once was, but his reputation is enough to make Paul pause and rethink his approach to the real fight.

In the end, Countdown: Paul vs. Tyson is more than just a promo for a bizarre fight. It’s a reflection of the different worlds these two fighters come from, and a reminder of how legends like Tyson continue to capture our attention, even in the digital age. As Ice-T asks in the docuseries: "Why are both of them here demanding our attention at all?" The answer might just be that the story of Mike Tyson is still one worth telling—whether it’s in the ring or through the glow of an old Nintendo screen.