Michael Irvin claims Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson fight was rigged amid speculation of secret contract clause

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin has suggested that the Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson fight, which took place on Netflix last week, may have been rigged due to a secret clause in the contract.

According to Daily Mail, the 27-year-old Paul defeated the 58-year-old Tyson with ease, landing 18 punches while Tyson appeared slow and struggled to keep up with the younger fighter. Many fans were perplexed by Tyson’s lack of aggression and questioned whether something was off about the fight.

Michael Irvin suggests Mike Tyson was restricted by a 'no uppercut' clause in contract

Michael Irvin, speaking on 'The Herd' with Colin Cowherd, pointed out that Tyson failed to throw his signature uppercut, a move that is typically part of his explosive punching combinations.

Irvin explained, "I was looking for that patent 'one in the body, one on the uppercut.' When he hits that it's boom boom, boom. I want to see that. But we didn't get that, not a one."

Irvin went on to suggest that someone had informed him that a clause in the contract may have prevented Tyson from using his uppercut. "And I saw someone else say that it was in the contract - 'no uppercuts.' They had it in the contract. Come on guys, why wouldn't Mike Tyson throw an uppercut?" Irvin asked, casting doubt on Tyson’s performance and raising the possibility of restrictions that were not immediately obvious to fans.

Irvin also compared Tyson’s situation to his own experiences in football, suggesting that if he were still able to play but was restricted from running his usual routes, it would be an obvious sign that something was "fixed."

"If Mike Irvin had good knees and could still play football but didn't run a set route, something's fixed," he added, underlining his belief that Tyson’s actions in the ring were controlled.

Colin Cowherd supports Irvin’s theory, speculates contract restrictions impacted the fight

Colin Cowherd, the host of 'The Herd', agreed with Irvin’s theory and suggested that the absence of the uppercut may have had a significant impact on the fight.

"It was the killer shot and he didn't throw one," Cowherd said.

He further speculated, "Jake Paul by about the fifth round had a chance [to knock Tyson out] and I wonder if, after what you said, did Jake Paul say, 'Listen, I signed a contract. He can't throw an uppercut, so I'm not gonna humiliate him.'"

Cowherd’s comments echoed Irvin’s concerns, adding weight to the theory that Tyson’s performance was restricted in some way during the fight.

In addition to Irvin’s and Cowherd’s theories, fans online have also suggested that the fight may have been staged. Many pointed to a moment during the bout when Jake Paul appeared to signal Tyson to "take it easy."

Tyson's health struggles and the delayed fight have fueled suspicion over the legitimacy of the bout

The controversy surrounding the fight is further complicated by Tyson's health issues leading up to the event. The bout had been delayed in June when Tyson suffered an ulcer flare-up during a flight, and Tyson later revealed that he nearly died as a result.

Tyson required eight blood transfusions as part of his recovery. These health struggles led many to question whether Tyson was physically capable of performing at a high level, further fueling suspicions about the legitimacy of the fight.

Representatives from Most Valuable Promotions, which backs Jake Paul, declined to comment when contacted about the claims made by Irvin and others. Similarly, a spokesperson for Netflix did not immediately respond to a request for comment, leaving the conspiracy theories to continue circulating without official clarification.

Although the claims about a secret contract clause have not been confirmed, they have sparked widespread discussion about the nature of the fight.