Tyson Slaps Paul at the Weigh-In
Mike Tyson slapped Jake Paul during their final faceoff at the ceremonial weigh-in in Irving, Texas, on November 14, 2024, one night before their scheduled boxing match. The moment drew widespread attention, but it was a brief pre-fight incident—not a preview of how the bout would end.
What happened at the weigh-in
After the official weigh-in, Tyson and Paul met for a faceoff. Video showed Paul step onto Tyson’s foot just before Tyson struck him with an open-handed slap. ESPN reported that a source close to Tyson said he believed Paul had stepped on his foot deliberately; that account describes the reported explanation, while the footage itself does not establish intent. Security separated them, and Paul played to the crowd afterward.
Paul said, “It’s personal now,” after the slap. The exchange intensified the promotion, but neither fighter’s words at the weigh-in changed the official rules or result.
The fight result
Tyson, 58, and Paul, 27, fought on November 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The sanctioned bout was scheduled for eight two-minute rounds. Paul won by unanimous decision, with judges scoring it 80–72, 79–73 and 79–73. Tyson had not fought professionally since 2005; the bout was his first professional contest in nearly two decades.
The weigh-in slap became one of the event’s most replayed moments. In the ring, however, Paul controlled enough of the action to earn the judges’ decision. The official result settled the matchup regardless of the tension at the faceoff.
Sources
ESPN: Tyson slaps Paul during final staredown
ESPN: Paul wins unanimous decision over Tyson
Reuters: Paul beats Tyson by unanimous decision
Tags: Boxing, Combat Sports, Tyson Slaps Paul at the Weigh-In
