Netflix has spent big money on its first foray into boxing. It’s reported that Jake Paul will earn around $40 million and Mike Tyson $20 million to meet in the ring at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas tonight (Friday, Nov 15).

That tallies up to a $60 million outlay from the broadcaster, who boast around 282 million subscribers who will be able to watch the huge event at no extra cost. It’s a big business move for the streaming giants – and one it clearly hopes will pay off.

There must have been times during fight week, however, when they wondered what they had spent their money on. Particularly the $20 million spent on Tyson.

He showcased some of his power on the pads on Tuesday at open workouts, which was the bare minimum need to prove this could still be a contest. But at Wednesday’s press conference, he barely said a word as Paul struggled to sell the fight as a contest.

Whether or not somebody had a word in his ear or whether Tyson really was just in the zone remains to be seen, but just over 24 hours out from the opening bell, he finally snapped. When Paul crawled up to him and stepped on his toes ahead of their face off after weighing in, the 58-year-old delivered what has already been dubbed the ‘slap heard around the world’ on social media channels.

It was a flashpoint that has quickly gone viral. The scene of one of the most famous boxers on the planet slapping a former YouTuber now trying to make it as a boxer, one 31 years younger than him, has more than captured the imaginations of anyone who may have switched off.

Paul and Tyson will fight at AT&T Stadium

Paul and Tyson will fight at AT&T Stadium ( 

Image:

Getty Images)

For Netflix, this is all about getting eyes on their product and subscribers on their platform. The outcome of the fight is somewhat irrelevant in that regard – they just need people tuned in excited for the opening bell.

With a risk of many fans getting turned off, the viral moment Tyson’s brief loss of composure created is more than anything they could have wished for. If anyone was unaware Tyson was fighting Jake Paul, or switching off about the prospect, they won’t be now.

They’ve invested plenty of money in Tyson and Paul. But the viral moment just a day before the big fight must be exactly what they wanted as they look for a return on their investment and a successful step as they look to branch out into live sports.