Mike Tyson may not have squared off against Jake Paul this year, but he still found a way to deliver a memorable punch — this time to YouTube megastar Mr. Beast.

The stunt unfolded in Saudi Arabia in the lead-up to the blockbuster Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford fight, part of Riyadh Season’s push to blend sports with global entertainment. Turki Alalshikh, Saudi Arabia’s sports and boxing impresario, arranged for Mr. Beast to take a body shot from the former heavyweight champion as part of the promotion.

The Setup

In a promotional clip that has already racked up more than 5 million views on TikTok alone, Mr. Beast — real name Jimmy Donaldson — hyped the fight before stepping up to the boxing legend.

“Tyson is about to punch me, because thanks to Riyadh Season, Canelo vs. Crawford is about to happen,” Donaldson said in the video. “It literally starts in an hour, so after this, you need to go watch it. To raise awareness, I’m gonna take a punch from Mike Tyson.”

Barely finishing his sentence, Donaldson told Tyson, “Whenever you’re ready,” before absorbing a clean shot to the midsection.

The Punch

Even though Tyson didn’t appear to hit with full force, the effect was immediate. Mr. Beast doubled over, dropped to his knees, and struggled to finish his read encouraging fans to tune in to the fight on Netflix.

The moment struck a balance between spectacle and humor — Tyson, at 58, still showed flashes of his infamous power, while Donaldson leaned into the bit with his trademark blend of stunt performance and awkward charm.

Authentic or Just Another Skit?

Reactions online were mixed. Some viewers wondered if Tyson had really connected, while others pointed out that nearly everything Mr. Beast films is designed to be exaggerated for maximum viral impact.

Still, fans couldn’t resist replaying the footage, noting how quickly the YouTuber went down even from what seemed to be a restrained shot.

A Punch With Purpose

Whether staged or not, the punch accomplished its goal: drawing younger audiences into the fight spectacle. By putting one of the internet’s biggest creators alongside one of boxing’s greatest legends, Riyadh Season bridged two worlds for maximum attention.

And if there was a little extra sting behind Tyson’s glove? Some fans joked it might have been payback for all the extreme stunts Donaldson has put his contestants through in pursuit of clicks and cash.

Featured image credit: tiktok/@mrbeast