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Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Jake Paul, Mike Tyson
Josh Lawless
A body language expert has broken down Jake Paul's gesture to Mike Tyson at the very end of their heavyweight bout.
Paul and Tyson faced off in a professional fight in front of 70,000 fans at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as well as millions around the world live on Netflix.
It was Tyson's first fight since a defeat to Kevin McBride in 2005 but although he showed shades of the machine he used to be early on, 'Iron' Mike only managed 18 punches in eight rounds and was comfortably beaten.
After it went the distance, Paul was announced as the clear winner after the judges scored it unanimously 80-72, 79-73 and 79-73 in his favour.
Despite some animosity at the weigh in when Tyson slapped the man 31 years younger than him after he stepped on his foot, Paul was full of respect and bowed to the former heavyweight champion of the world.
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The two then shared an embrace when the final bell tolled. A body language expert analysed Paul's antics and claimed he was "in awe" and shared "relief" with his opponent after the encounter.
"Mike Tyson and Jake Paul acknowledge each other as they know the fight is nearing the end and Jake in particular is in awe of Mike and wants to show how much he respects and admires him," Inbaal Honigman said via Action Network, as per UNILAD.
"When Jake Paul bows to Mike Tyson, he is not only grateful, but he is sharing his relief to Mike as if to say, ‘it’s over, we did it.’"
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In his press conference, Paul revealed that he refrained from knocking Tyson out and took his foot off the gas as he "didn't wanna hurt someone that didn't need to be hurt".
He went on to say that he has "so much respect" for the 58-year-old and Honigman believes that was evidence in the way he was with Tyson in the ring.
Honigman continued: "Jake Paul has so much admiration for Mike Tyson and when he shakes his hand, it is to make sure that Mike Tyson understands how much he respects him.
"It is to show Mike that he did amazing at the age of 58 and he should be proud of himself. The handshake is also to say, ‘we got the job done, look at the venue, look at this being on Netflix, this is absolutely huge.’"
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According to Paul, the demand for the event was so strong that Netflix crashed - with the figures surpassing this year's Super Bowl ahead of the full numbers being crunched and released.
Meanwhile, Tyson appears to have called time on his decorated career - issuing a passionate statement where he said he has "no regrets to get in ring one last time".