Netflix’s Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson was a big moment for Bluesky

It was pure curiosity that led me to tune in to the live Netflix boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson on Saturday night. The broadcast encountered technical problems, and the battle itself was slow and difficult. But there was something else that kept me watching: all the jokes flying in Bluesky.

That kind of real-time social experience is a big part of what made X feel so important back when it was still called Twitter. Whether it was the World Cup or the presidential election or the Nintendo Direct, having so many people posting in one place made it feel alive, a feeling that Meta’s Threads, with its algorithmic feed, could replicate. But at least for a brief moment Saturday night, Bluesky did.

Paul vs. Tyson was actually a close encounter of Bluesky’s events. The site has seen a surge in sign-ups this past week, including a number of X Rebels. Although I have had an account since last year, it was only last week that I started posting and building my following list. . The move coincided with Netflix’s biggest bet to date on live streaming. So when I opened the battle for Netflix, I realized that it was a good time to see how well Bluesky handled in terms of creating a second screen experience for us to follow.

It did not disappoint. Before the main event, there was a real good fight between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano. The bout itself had it all: big swings, dangerous hips, and a controversial decision in Taylor’s favor that led to the biggest post-fight quote. It was when Serrano’s trainer, Jordan Maldonado, blurted out that “Katie’s a good person, but she’s too big-headed” that my feed came to life.

Then came the biggest moment of the night, which had nothing to do with pugilism. In the pre-match interview, Tyson was calm and collected while talking to his son, but he turned around and accidentally revealed his naked behind in front of millions watching at home. Meme’s accounts are straight to the point, and it seems like everyone I follow has something to say about it. It reminded me a bit of the infamous Oscars slap, just less uncomfortable.

Since then, my feed has been full of people complaining that the Paul vs. How Tyson didn’t overdo it (especially after the climax of Taylor vs. Serrano) and the quality of the stream itself, which often appears pixelated as the stream is drowned out. and include other distractions, such as malfunctioning microphones. Many wondered aloud why we were all watching this.

I know I would have sung if it wasn’t for that real-time commentary, which would even elevate the average live experience. Sometimes a bad event turns into a good one because of online chats. And perhaps the most remarkable thing about Bluesky on Saturday night was that it wasn’t amazing at all – it felt like old Twitter. And that’s exactly what Bluesky needs to continue growing.

Sports are a big thing on social media, and with X losing its grip on that space, many have struggled to replicate it elsewhere. Threads seemed like an ideal place given the scale of its user base, but its algorithm-driven feeds made real-time discussion difficult. In fact, the day after the war, I logged into Threads and saw 20 hours worth of posts from when the war was still alive. If Bluesky can handle the technical challenges of its growing user base, it could be just what sports fans like me are looking for.