Yo WFUN Nation!

Saturday morning, I got woken up by a message from my brother-in-law (an active amateur boxer):  

I laughed it off, thinking it was a failed marketing stunt. I really thought it was called off na.   

The fight was supposed to happen back on July 20 but never did because Mike Tyson had an ulcer flare-up that stopped him from training. I figured it would just remain one of those “what-ifs” and moved on.  

Fast forward to last weekend. No Netflix subscription at that time (we were on Disney+), but biglang napa-subscribe ako just to watch this fight.  

And so, Jake Paul, internet troublemaker-turned-pro-boxer, vs. Mike Tyson, boxing legend finally met in the ring.

In my 90s kid heart, to be honest, I wanted Mike to really give Jake a run for his money, and give the crowd a show.

And it was... honestly, boring.  

For 24 minutes, the world tuned in to watch a surprisingly uneventful match. Tyson had a couple of good shots early on, but eventually... wala na.  

Still, this wasn’t just a fight; it was a masterclass in sports marketing strategy. Jake Paul played the long game, knowing he’d likely win against a 58-year-old Tyson. He just kept out of reach for most of the fight, taking advantage of the size of the ring.

Tyson in his prime? Different story—out of his 50 wins, 44 of those were knockouts, and 12 of them in the first round! 

The motives were clear: Jake wanted even more fame, Mike wanted another spot in the limelight and a paycheck, and Netflix wanted subscribers.  

The biggest winner? Netflix. 

While Jake and Mike pocketed a cool $20M–$40M each, and the Dallas venue producers reported live event revenue of $18 million dollars..

Netflix still stole the show.

60 million viewers from its 230M subscribers tuned in. They haven’t disclosed how many new subs signed up just for the fight, but you can bet it’s a six-figure surge.  

This wasn’t just a clash of “old vs. new.” It was a genius move to unite two generations of fans while pulling in millions. And Netflix isn’t stopping—WrestleMania and NFL sporting events are already locked in.  

So, what’s the lesson for freelancers like us?  

Freelancing, like boxing, isn’t just about raw talent—it’s about leveraging your unique strengths and making strategic partnerships.  

You don’t need to “fight alone.” Collaborate with others who complement your skills. Maybe that’s teaming up with an experienced mentor (your Tyson) or a fresh, innovative peer (your Jake). Together, you can create something bigger than yourself—something your audience *can’t ignore*.  

Here’s the bottom line: When old school meets new school, everyone wins. The audience won too, obviously. Because it finally scratched that big "what-if" itch.

The question is: Are you ready to play smart and make your next big move?  

Hit reply and let me know—what’s one collaboration or strategy you’ve been dreaming of but haven’t acted on yet? Let’s make it happen.  

Keep punching up,  

Shoden

P.S. Am back guys! haha sorry it took me look enough, am studying up on the latest and coolest in AI. Expect more of my face more often though. Let's make the most of the last 43 days in 2024 together.

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