Everyone remember where they were when the buffering wheel of death became the most famous athlete in the world? Honestly, trying to figure out Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul what time it started became a full-time job for millions of people on November 15, 2024. If you weren't there, you missed a bizarre moment in cultural history. If you were there, you probably spent most of it staring at a frozen screen of Iron Mike's pre-fight ritual.
The Clock That Kept Us Waiting
The "official" start time for the main card was 8:00 PM ET. But let’s be real. Nobody actually expected the legends to touch gloves at 8:01. In the boxing world, "start time" is more of a suggestion. It's a vibe.
For the folks at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the energy was electric. For the 65 million households watching on Netflix, it was... stressful. The preliminary fights actually kicked off way earlier, around 5:30 PM ET, but the world didn't really tune in until the sun went down.
The main event walkouts didn't even happen until roughly midnight ET (around 11:00 PM local time in Texas). That’s a long time to wait for a fight that lasted sixteen minutes.
The Breakdown of the Night
- 5:30 PM ET: Prelims began. This was for the die-hards.
- 8:00 PM ET: The Netflix broadcast officially went live.
- 10:00 PM ET: The co-main event (Taylor vs. Serrano 2) started. This actually stole the show.
- 12:00 AM ET: Mike Tyson and Jake Paul finally began their ring walks.
Why the Timing Felt So Off
Netflix had a massive problem. They weren't prepared for the sheer volume of people asking Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul what time and then actually hitting "play" at once. We’re talking about 108 million live global viewers by the end of it. The technical glitches were legendary. It wasn't just slow; it was broken for a huge chunk of the audience.
Because of the lag, "real time" became a relative concept. Some people were watching Mike Tyson walk out while others were still seeing the end of the Katie Taylor fight. It was digital chaos.
✨ Don't miss: 2025 NFL Draft Quarterback Rankings: What Most People Get Wrong
The actual fight was weirdly short too. Instead of the standard three-minute rounds, they did eight rounds of two minutes each. And they wore 14-ounce gloves instead of the 10-ounce ones usually seen in heavyweight bouts. Basically, it was designed to make sure nobody actually died in the ring.
The Taylor vs Serrano Factor
You can't talk about the timing without mentioning the co-main event. Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano put on a clinic. It was a bloody, brutal rematch for the Undisputed Super Lightweight Title. It went the full ten rounds.
Most people who tuned in just to see if a 58-year-old Tyson still had "it" ended up realizing that the women’s fight was the real reason to stay awake. It finished around 11:30 PM ET, setting the stage for the final circus act.
Was It Worth the Wait?
Tyson looked his age. There's no way around it. In the first round, he showed a glimmer of that old "Baddest Man on the Planet" movement. He landed a couple of decent shots. But by round three, the gas tank was empty.
Jake Paul, who is 31 years younger, basically boxed circles around him. He didn't go for the knockout—honestly, it felt like he was taking it easy on a legend. Paul won via unanimous decision with scores of 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73.
It was a strange sight. A YouTuber-turned-boxer bowing to a man who used to terrorize the heavyweight division. The fight ended, the clock hit roughly 12:30 AM ET, and millions of people went to bed wondering why they stayed up so late for a sparring session.
The Financials Behind the Clock
While fans were annoyed by the delays, the money was moving.
- Jake Paul’s Purse: Reported to be around $40 million.
- Mike Tyson’s Purse: Clocked in at roughly $20 million.
- Gate Revenue: Over $18 million, the biggest boxing gate in US history outside of Las Vegas.
Looking Back at the Spectacle
If you're still searching for Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul what time because you're looking for a replay, Netflix still has the full broadcast available. Just be prepared—the "live" feel is gone, but the lag issues are (thankfully) fixed in the recorded version.
The event proved that "event" boxing is here to stay, but it also showed the limitations of streaming platforms trying to act like traditional cable networks. Netflix's CTO, Elizabeth Stone, called it a "huge success" despite the "technical challenges." Fans on X (formerly Twitter) had different words for it.
The next time a massive fight like this happens, expect the "start time" to be just as much of a mystery. Boxing never runs on time. It runs on hype.
To get the most out of watching the replay or future Netflix sports events, ensure your app is updated to the latest version and consider a hardwired ethernet connection to bypass the most common buffering triggers. If you're following the fighters' next moves, Jake Paul is already eyeing a match with Canelo Alvarez, while Tyson has hinted he might not be done quite yet, even mentioning a potential bout with Logan Paul.