The Sportsletter - Netflix's Knockout Circus 🥊

BY JEFF YODER

NOV. 15, 2024 | SUBSCRIBE | WEB VIEW

Happy Friday 🙌

Put 'em up! We’re getting the weekend started with an out-of-the-box, column-style write-up for fight weekend. Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson promises to be a one-of-a-kind event tonight on Netflix. UFC 309’s heavyweight fight (tomorrow) is also worthy of the hype. Plus, a huge NFC East showdown last night in Philly was a snoozer for three quarters, then Saquon Barkley caught lightning in a bottle.

🥊 Let's throw some punches...

Letter Rip!

PICKS

NFL Pick 'Em (Week 11)

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BOXING

Netflix's Knockout Circus 🥊

Photo: Sportsfile / Getty Images

Opinion: Tonight's Netflix Boxing Special Gets an A+ Pre-Fight Watchability Rating... For Better or Worse

🥊 Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul

(Tonight, 8:00 pm ET, Netflix)

Call this what it is — a circus. Flashy bells and whistles aren’t usually enough to lure a sports purist like myself into the realm of a dog and pony show. But sometimes I like to see the clowns. I’d certainly love to see this clown (Jake Paul) get bullied by Iron Mike Tyson for an hour. So go ahead, Netflix. Take my money and my Friday night plans. You’ve won this round. “Step right up and see the 58-year-old heavyweight champ with the face tattoo uppercut this annoying celebrity into oblivion.” (You gotta say it with that old-timey circus voice.)

Two fighters of different breeds enter the ring tonight at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. It's a made-for-streaming match that could be epic, or a complete disaster. If it’s the latter, don't say I didn’t warn you. If it’s the former... Man, I hope it's the former. A 27-year-old, mouth-running influencer nicknamed “The Problem Child” vs. the 58-year-old rebuilt and rebranded “Baddest Man on the Planet”...? Yeah, I’m tuning in. One ticket to the circus, please.

Paul’s Pipe Dream is My Popcorn 🍿

Paul made a living being an immature YouTuber as a teenager. Now, he's picking fights with the biggest names he can find, at least those who will take him seriously. His opponents often include retired boxers or MMA fighters in the twilights of their careers — Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva, Tommy Fury and Floyd Mayweather. He also KO’d former NBA player Nate Robinson. The guy will do anything for views. Having the audacity to infiltrate the sports world in such a way makes people like me angry (again... a sports purist). But as annoying as he is, Paul has seemingly revived the world’s oldest sport with celebrity flare and the old-school hype machine, like a Gen-Z Muhammad Ali. His one-off events drew gazillions of viewers during the pandemic in 2020 when team sports were null and void. Now, they continue with this crazy idea. Mike Tyson...

What better circus headliner than the former heavyweight champ? One of the most iconic sports figures, possibly ever.

Tale of the Tape

Jake Paul: 10-1, 7 KOs (27 years old)

Mike Tyson: 50-6, 44 KOs (58 years old)

Former Heavyweight Champion of the World

Pre-Fight Notes: The fight is a sanctioned exhibition, even though it consists of eight two-minute rounds instead of 12 three-minute rounds. The gloves will be 14 ounces (instead of 10), and it's the largest age gap (31 years) in the history of boxing. It has the potential to be the most-watched boxing match of all-time with 260 million Netflix users across the world, plus the multi-generational and international allure of Tyson.

Will it be a good fight or a run-around? I can’t answer that. I can say this: If there’s even a slight chance to see Tyson dismantle this cocky YouTuber with a lights-out haymaker, I’m in. I'm all the way in.

🥊 Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson (Official Trailer)

(Tonight, 8:00 pm ET, Netflix)

Read More

TheScore: Top 5 Mike Tyson Knockouts (Video)

ESPN: Jake Paul Embraces ‘Ultimate Heel’ Role Against Mike Tyson

SI: Mike Tyson Slaps Jake Paul at Weigh-In Before Netflix Match

NFL

Saquon, Eagles Fly in 4th Quarter 🦅

Photo: Mitchell Leff / Getty Images

Eagles Score 20 Points in 4th Quarter to Beat Commanders (26-18) on Thursday Night Football — Saquon Barkley (198 Yards, 2 TDs) Runs Wild Again

Death, taxes, and Saquon in crunch time. The Bird Gang is 8-2 with six straight wins after a late surge last night in Philly with the NFC East on the line. The Eagles beat the Commanders (26-18) despite a frustrating first three quarters. Philly trailed 10-6 after three frames that saw two missed field goals from kicker Jake Elliot. But the birds flew the coop in the fourth quarter with three rushing touchdowns, including two from Saquon Barkley and a tush-push TD from QB Jalen Hurts. Barkley (198 yards, 2 TDs) is now the NFL's leading rusher, and Hurts (11 TDs) just set the NFL record for most rushing TDs by a quarterback through 10 games. That’s six straight wins for the red-hot Eagles and a 1.5-game lead in the division. They haven’t lost since Sept. 29.

4th Quarter Bird Gang 🦅

The Eagles have outscored opponents by more than double (88-43) in the 4th quarter this season. Their 4Q offense (8.8 points scored) ranks second in the NFL while their 4Q defense (4.3 points allowed) ranks fifth. No other team ranks top five the 4th quarter on both sides of the ball.

Watch: Eagles & Saquon Take Flight in 4th Quarter to Beat Commanders (26-18)

NFC East Standings: Eagles (8-2), Commanders (7-4), Cowboys (3-6), Giants (2-8)

CBS Sports: Eagles, Barkley Run Roughshod on Commanders in 4th Quarter

HIGHLIGHTS 🎥

⚽️ Concacaf Nations League

🇺🇸 USMNT def. 🇯🇲 Jamaica (1-0)

U.S. Rides Early Goal From Ricardo Pepi (5’)

🏀 NBA

Jazz def. Mavericks (115-113)

Utah Holds Off Comeback & Luka Doncic (37 pts)

🏒 NHL

Devils def. Panthers (6-2)

Jesper Bratt Scores Hat Trick for Jersey

Lightning def. Jets (4-1)

Winnipeg Suffers 2nd Loss of the Year

Oilers def. Predators (3-2, OT)

Connor McDavid (1G, 1A) Hits 1,000 Career Points

STORYLINES

🏈 NFL Head Coaching Candidates

Hot seats are getting warmer. This is our annual exhaustive list of the names that will be in play for openings this offseason, along with rising young coaches who could be your team’s next coordinator. (Sports Illustrated)

🏀 NBA Power Rankings

There’s no surprise at No. 1 with the undefeated Cavaliers (13-0) still perfect on the year. After that? Wemby’s 50-piece has the Spurs ahead of schedule. The Warriors are still golden. And the Lakers in the top 10? (CBS Sports)

⚾️ The Roki Sasaki Scouting Report

Baseball's next Japanese superstar is coming. But who’s the best suitor for soon-to-be ace Roki Sasaki? In order to answer that, we first need to understand the talent and fit for this 23-year-old phenom. (MLB.com)

NEWS 📰

🏀 NBA Unveils New City Edition Uniforms for All 30 Teams (B/R)

⚾️ Rays to Play 2025 Games at Yankees Spring Training Stadium With Tropicana Field Under Repair (SI)

⛷️ Skier Lindsey Vonn, 40, Comes Out of Retirement 6 Years After Last Olympics (NBC Sports)

🏈 4-Star QB Becomes 6th Player in 2025 Class to Decommit From Florida State (ESPN)

🏈 Deion Sanders Says He Vows to Step in if Wrong Team Tries to Draft His Guys (CBS Sports)

⚽️ NWSL’s Angel City Announces Plans to Take Over Old Rams Training Facility (Yahoo! Sports)

🏈 Chiefs Kicker Harrison Butker Headed to IR With Knee Surgery (CBS Sports)

🏀 Tennessee Basketball Fans Raise $10,000 for Montana Guard Who Scored 30 After Losing Both Parents in 1 Year (SI)

SCHEDULE 🗓️

The Weekend Must-Watch List

Fight weekend is here! It’s back-to-back nights of November knockouts. We’ve had this one circled on the calendar for months. Enjoy the action!