Mike Tyson says despite losing to Jake Paul in his boxing comeback on Saturday afternoon (AEDT), he has still won.

The 58-year-old boxing legend stepped back in the ring for the first time in 19 years to fight Paul, a 27-year-old YouTuber and social media influencer-turned fighter.

And while the fight played out as many predicted it would — with the older man running out of steam early in the bout and eventually losing — he still went the full eight two-minute rounds with someone less than half his age.

On top of that, he did it just months after suffering a medical episode during a flight in May which, he now says, nearly took his life.

“This is one of those situations when you lost but still won,” Tyson said in a statement on Sunday morning (AEDT).

“I’m grateful for last night. No regrets to get in ring one last time.

“I almost died in June. Had eight blood transfusions. Lost half my blood and 25lbs (11.3kgs) in hospital and had to fight to get healthy to fight — so I won.

“To have my children see me stand toe to toe and finish eight rounds with a talented fighter half my age in front of a packed Dallas Cowboy stadium is an experience that no man has the right to ask for. Thank you.”

Paul built the theatre of the fight up as much as anyone in the lead-up to the bout, even saying at the weigh-in that Tyson “must die” after being slapped in the face, but he has been a humble and gracious winner since the bell rang at the end of the eighth.

The younger boxer paid tribute to Tyson over and over again during the post-fight interview in the ring, and did so again in the comments of Tyson’s post.

“Love you Mike. It was an honor. You’re an inspiration to us all,” Paul wrote.

Even billionaire Elon Musk said “bravo”.

All the hate from the pre-fight build-up was gone after the fight, with Paul even stopping to pay homage with a bow to Tyson before the final bell sounded at the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.

The fight wasn’t close on the judge’s cards, with one giving Paul an 80-72 edge and the other two calling it 79-73.

Asked if it was the last time he would be seen in a ring, Tyson said: “I don’t know. It depends on the situation.

“I don’t think so. I knew (Paul) was a good fighter.

“I didn’t prove nothing to anyone, just myself. I’m not one of these guys who goes out to please the world, I’m just happy with what I can do.”

Tyson came for Paul immediately after the opening bell and landed a couple of quick punches, but didn’t try much else the rest of the way.

Even fewer and shorter rounds than a standard bout couldn’t do much to generate “Iron Mike” in his first sanctioned pro fight in almost 20 years, facing a boxing neophyte with hopes of fighting for championships somewhere in the future.

Paul was more aggressive after the quick burst from Tyson in the opening seconds, but the punching wasn’t very efficient. There were quite a few wild swings and misses.

Tyson mostly sat back and waited for Paul to come to him, with a few exceptions. It was quite the contrast to the co-main event, another slugfest in which Katie Taylor kept her undisputed super lightweight championship with a decision over Amanda Serrano.

It was the first sanctioned fight since 2005 for Tyson. Paul started fighting a little more than four years ago.

“Mike Tyson, this is such an honour,” said Paul.

“He’s the greatest to ever do it. He is an icon. It was an honour to fight him. He was exactly what I thought he would be.”

- With AAP