The Paul vs. Tyson bout didn’t exactly live up to its pre-match hype, and maybe it is because we were expecting too much from a beloved boxing GOAT who, in reality, is actually a 58-year-old family man.

Paul vs. Tyson from the Sportsbooks Perspective

Bookmakers, however, had a different story, as the showdown attracted record wagering numbers and betting handles.

BetMGM has announced the fight as its most-bet contest in the boxing and Mixed Martial Arts categories. The platform took three times the number of bets and four times the money of any combat sport in its history.

Caesars Sportsbook also had excellent news, with trading vice president Craig Mucklow stating that the fight was on par with an NFL Monday night game.

“We knew there would be tremendous interest in the fight, as the betting suggested it was a generational matchup in customer demographics,” Mucklow said. “Those old enough to remember a prime Mike Tyson got to live the nostalgia one last time, while those not old enough to know Iron Mike were firmly on the Jake Paul side of the counter.”

Like BetMGM, DraftKings sports operations director Johnny Avello confirmed that the fight is now the sportsbook’s most-bet boxing contest.

“The bettors were yearning for Tyson to return to the ring even at 58 years old, and wanted to be a part of this moment with one of the icons of the sport,” Avello said. “We’ll see who Jake Paul fights next, but his matches have proven to create immense buzz and unprecedented action on our platforms.”

Two Stars Attracted Attention from Both Young and Old

This match attracted much clout because it featured two superstars whose combined reputation and influence span several generations. Iron Mike Tyson vs Youtuber Jake was the perfect headline to draw in the bettors.

Still, it would be difficult to say this is the biggest match ever regarding betting appeal. Tyson, for one, had many awesome fights in the past, but most happened before gambling became legal outside Nevada. Even now, 38 states still do not support sports betting.

BetMGM announced that most bets were on props. The most popular picks were Tyson to win by knockout, first-round KO, or decision.

Many gamblers apparently believed in Iron Mike, despite the sportsbook clearly placing the 27-year Jake as -175 favorite. 67% of tickets and 53% of money were on Tyson. Alex Rella, a senior grader at BetMGM, confirmed that “Paul winning was a good outcome for the sportsbook.”