If you didn’t fall asleep during the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight, it’s probably because you were betting on it.
BetMGM tells The Post that Paul vs. Tyson was the most bet-on fight in combat sports history, by far, including any and all UFC fights.
A spokesperson added that the fight had four times more money than the next-highest fights.
A record amount of people bet on Jake Paul’s win over Mike Tyson.Getty Images for Netflix © 2024
“Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight is the most-bet combat sport (boxing and MMA) in BetMGM history. Paul winning was a good outcome for the sportsbook,” Alex Rella, Senior Trader at BetMGM, told The Post.
The books enjoyed the outcome since Tyson by KO/TKO or DQ (+250) was the most common bet for the fight, while Tyson by decision (+1100) generated the second-most bets and Tyson to win in Round 1 was third (+14/1).
None of those bets were close to winning, as Tyson looked uncompetitive in a losing effort by decision.
Tyson’s moneyline received 67 percent of the betting tickets, while getting 53 percent of the money.
Paul received 16 percent of the tickets and a stronger 41 percent of the handle, while the remainder bet on the fight to be a draw.
Jake Paul celebrates his win Friday night.AFP via Getty Images
The total amount of bets on the fight was three times higher than that of the next-highest fight.
BetMGM did not provide the specific bouts, but this would include every Conor McGregor fight, any high-profile boxing matches and elite UFC fight since online sports betting was legalized in 2018.
This continues a trend of the public wagering on Paul’s bouts.
DraftKings told The Post in July that the most bet-on boxing matches in company history included plenty of “The Problem Child.”
Paul vs. Nate Diaz was the most bet-on boxing event in DraftKings history as of July, while Paul vs. Mike Perry was 14th.
This one is likely to smash records at DraftKings as well.
ESPN BET‘s Senior Vice President and Head of Sportsbook, Patrick Jay, also told The Post in July that even Paul’s smaller fights get betting attention.
Jake Paul beat Mike Tyson rather easily.AFP via Getty Images
“Jake Paul’s fights average 17x more bets and 13x higher handle per event than standard boxing events,” Jay said. “Compared to Championship boxing events, Jake Paul fights take in an average of 2.5x more bets and 2.5x higher handle.”
Perhaps the result of this bout won’t endear Paul to many fans going forward, though, as the lackluster showing resulted in plenty of angry fans.
