ARLINGTON, Texas — Mike Tyson is gearing up for his first official boxing match since 2005, stepping into the ring against younger influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Texas.
The fight is scheduled for Friday evening at the AT&T Stadium, home to the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL, and will be available for streaming on Netflix, which boasts over 280 million subscribers worldwide.
The state of Texas has approved this bout with some unique regulations, including limiting each of the eight rounds to just two minutes. Additionally, Tyson, aged 58, and 27-year-old Paul will utilize heavier gloves, which are intended to mitigate punch power.
Tyson ended his career with an impressive record of 50 wins, 6 losses, and 44 knockouts, culminating in a defeat to Kevin McBride nearly two decades ago. On the other hand, Paul has made his professional debut approximately four years ago and holds a 10-1 record with seven knockouts, with most of his competition comprising mixed martial artists and lesser-known boxers.
Initially, this match was slated for July 20, but its date was pushed back due to Tyson needing medical attention for a stomach ulcer, which arose after he felt unwell aboard a flight.
Reflecting on his prior exhibition fight against Roy Jones Jr., which took place in an empty arena during the pandemic in 2020, Tyson has expressed that the experience revived his confidence in pursuing real matches again. In the buildup to the fight, tensions escalated leading to an incident during the weigh-in where Tyson slapped Paul, abruptly ending their final face-off.
Financially, Paul stands to earn a staggering $40 million, whereas Tyson will receive around $20 million for this matchup. Paul disclosed his earnings during a previous press conference earlier this summer. Despite Tyson’s complicated history with legal and financial troubles, he has stated that his motivation for this fight with Paul isn’t primarily about the money.
Additionally, the card features a co-main event showcasing the undisputed women’s super lightweight championship, featuring Ireland’s Katie Taylor take on Puerto Rico’s Amanda Serrano.
This matchup serves as a rematch of a controversial split decision that Taylor won in an electrifying bout held at the sold-out Madison Square Garden two years ago, marking a historic moment as they became the first female fighters to headline a boxing event at that iconic venue.