NETFLIX tried to present the spectacle of the decade. It failed but only because it was swamped.
The idea of the production was pure Hollywood. The event was spectacular. The live AT&T arena, 70,000 huge. The attending celebrities, Hollywood’s biggest stars who wanted to be seen. The world audience, nearly 300 million, incredible.
The spectacle boiled down to a Battle of Age, youth vs aged. Jake Paul, the less famous YouTube star, 27. Mike Tyson, boxing and world fame, 58.
Each man trained hard, each was in the best physical form they could attain. The rules for the match were modified to favour the ‘old guy,’ 2 minute rounds rather than the normal 3; 8 rounds rather than the normal 12 or 15. No matter.
The match started well for Tyson. He outboxed the younger opponent for the first two rounds. Experience vs caution? Youth took control in the third round. Speed, power, frequency of hits, youth prevailed. The old boxer may have had heart, determination, and passion, but the body was not aboard. Age is the “master” for us all, no matter how hard we try to beat back the hands of time. Time and age win no matter what we do.
The match succeeded in being a worldwide attraction. NETFLIX drew nearly 300 million viewers worldwide, but the load defeated its service system. Buffering and freezing were repetitive problems were exacerbated as fight time drew closer, requiring viewers to wait until NETFLIX servers caught up and managed the unexpected load.
A very successful spectacle for all concerned: NETFLIX, attracted the largest audience ever drawn and is likely to draw again; for Jake Paul, the victor by decision, a $40 million payday and new world acclaim; for Mike Tyson, a $20 million loser’s purse and world sympathy.
This wasn’t Rocky. There’ll be no rematch. Stallone likely could not have written a better screenplay for the event. It was pure Hollywood, but it was a dud as a boxing match. Youth won, but age confirmed its invincibility and that it cannot be defeated.
In short
The take-aways from this event:
- YOUTH is appealing and exciting;
- AGE cannot be defeated;
- MEDIA MOGULS confirm their media might;
- HOLLYWOOD [BARNUM & BAILEY] will never fail.
NETFLIX offered viewers apologies for the broadcast glitches: APOLOGIES
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For $40 million, I would say these kind of things too. Hear the after the match INTERVIEWS
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