Entain: Tyson vs Paul the most bet on boxing match in company's history
Operator reveals fight smashed all previous records as management suggests Netflix’s broadcasting role acted as a catalyst for soaring interest
Entain has revealed that the Mike Tyson versus Jake Paul fight was the most bet-on boxing match in the London-listed company’s history.
The bout, which took place on November 15 in Arlington, Texas, was streamed on Netflix and saw around 65 million households tuning in to the broadcast at its peak.
Paul, a Youtuber-turned-professional boxer, won the contest against 58-year-old Tyson on points.
While Entain did not disclose total figures, the operator said the event brought about the largest number of bets and highest total stakes on a fight across all combat sports in its history.
Tyson dominated the betting, with 68% of punters backing the former world heavyweight champion, with just 17% of Entain customers expecting Paul to win. The remaining 15% had bet on a draw.
However, total stakes for each fighter was much closer, with Tyson taking 50% of the market and Paul close behind on 46%.
Tyson to win via a knockout was the most bet-on method of victory, Entain added.
Prior to this bout, Oleksandr Usyk versus Tyson Fury, which took place in May, was Entain’s previous most bet-on fight.
April 2023’s fight between Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia had been the bout that garnered the highest total stakes.
Paul now accounts for seven of Entain’s 25 most bet-on boxing matches, with the controversial character having an obvious pull for customers.
Greg Ferris, Entain sports managing director, said the impact of Netflix’s role in the event “can’t be overlooked.”
Ferris added: “Their large subscriber base, promotion, and the decision to offer to existing customers at no additional cost saw record numbers of viewers.
“Putting these two in a ring attracted fans from both sides of the fence, creating a rare crossover event. With the odds also relatively close, a whole raft of new bettors flocked to back their favorites, making this the most bet fight in our history.
“It will be fascinating to see if this follows through to their [Netflix] Christmas Day NFL games, which they are broadcasting for the first time this year, and if any other large streaming platforms react.”