Well before the end it was sad. Mike Tyson never looked like beating Jake Paul and he had no chance of defeating Father Time.

To Jake Paul's immense credit he pulled off a spectacular event and treated his idol with not only respect but also kindness.

A 31-year age difference was indeed too wide a gap for a 58-year-old to bridge. Nineteen years since his last serious fight did turn Iron Mike rusty.

Paul saw it quickly. Even though Tyson did just about enough to make the first the only round he won.

The YouTuber kept doing enough to ensure his 11th victory in 12 fights but not sufficient to inflict serious damage on a man who got older with every round.

Tyson's achievement was to go the eight round distance. Albeit with a little help from his new friend.

There were a few boos at the finish but most of the packed Dallas Cowboys Stadium enjoyed their bizarre night out and joined Paul in paying tribute to the legend.

The good ol' guys of Texas and their gals rolled in late from the bars. Most of the minds under those stetsons were focused solely on Tyson and the curiosity of what might be his final appearance in boxing's last chance saloon.

This wasn't a fight crowd much fussed about undercards. Katie Taylor excepted, until she head-butted her way to the most outrageous of recent fights in which she has been the beneficiary of highly dubious decisions and was jeered out of the ring.

While the fans loitered before taking their seats under the vast dome of this arena they were preceded in by the announcement that Tyson and Paul had set a new record for prize-fighting in the Lone Star state of $17.8 million (£14.1m) in ticket sales.

On its own that would not have covered the multi-million dollar purses of the two principals - think 15 million for Mike and 35 for Jake - but it gave Netflix a solid base for funding the cost of this retro extravaganza.

One boost came with a late raising of prices which counterbalanced much of the short fall from a drastic cut after Tyson's imploding stomach ulcer forced a postponement which sowed doubt as to whether the fight would ever take place.

That and an ultimate luxury hospitality box for eight rigged up at ringside which sold for two million dollars 48 hours before the first bell.

As the signs on all the freeways here advise us: Don't Mess With Texas.

If this place wants to put on a fight involving a bad ol' boy approaching bus pass age which stirs critical controversy, it's nobody else's damn business.

This crowd was ready to party. As the atmosphere grew ever louder the roaring cheers for all the ring announcer's mentions of Tyson managed to drown out the vile-mouthed rap pounded out by the DJ.

Be thankful for small mercies.

When the most gigantic screens in any sports stadium in the world showed Paul arriving in the building with his bosom friend the reception was mixed.

Iron Mike's familiar, aloof walk to his dressing room almost lifted the roof off the AT&T.

By then this 80,000 super-seater looked as near as dammit full and there was no doubting where the loyalties of the majority lay.

None of them cared one jot about the eight rounds being reduced from three to two minute's duration or that the gloves were padded from ten to 14 ounces.

This was an improbable chance to see one of the greatest heavyweights of all time roll back the years to when he was the Baddest Man On The Planet.

And to see Paul the showman driven to the ring in an emerald green open-top car with a pigeon to take Tyson's fancy as a fellow passenger.

Iron Mike walked the walk. In black of course. To bedlam.

The hard work that had gone into this return was evident in the ripped condition of his body

Round-by-round

1 - As expected, Tyson came out firing and three or four good shots counted for more than Paul's jabs. 10-9

2 - Paul was on the move. Tyson unable to catch him. The jab prevails. 9-10 

3 - Paul starting to boss it. Catching his idol with some sharp combinations. 9-10

4 - Crowd falling silent now as Tyson struggles to make any kind of impact. 9-10

5 - Tyson lands one clubbing left but spends the rest of the fifth eating leather. 9-10

6 - Paul had poked out a mocking tongue at the end of the fifth but Iron Mike could find no way of punishing the insult in the sixth. 9-10

7 - Looks as if Paul is taking it easy on Tyson. And subtly taking pity. 9-10 

8 - Tyson comes out wearily for the last. Paul clearly carrying him and in the closing seconds he stands back and bows to one of the greats. 9-10