The fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson was officially sanctioned as a professional boxing match by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations. The widely anticipated match is scheduled to take place on July 20 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Nakisa Bidarian, Co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions, explained the process behind getting the fight sanctioned.
"Mike Tyson and Jake Paul signed on to fight each other with the desire to do so in a sanctioned professional fight that would have a definitive outcome," said Bidarian.
He also noted that MVP worked for six weeks with partners and regulatory bodies to meet all requirements necessary for official sanctioning.
The rules specified for this bout identify it clearly as a heavyweight match consisting of eight two-minute rounds maximum. Knockouts are allowed, and fighters will wear 14 oz. gloves without any headgear. The results of this match will be recorded on the fighters' official records, affecting their professional standings.
The event will be broadcast live on DAZN Pay-Per-View (PPV). This broadcast also features another significant fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
Jake Paul, a social media influencer turned professional boxer, has been involved in several high-profile boxing fights against athletes from various backgrounds.
Mike Tyson, regarded as one of the most ferocious boxers in history, retired from professional boxing in 2005 but has appeared in exhibition bouts recently. This matchup offers both contestants a pivotal opportunity to validate their capabilities on a grand scale within the sport's regulated constraints.
Recent Updates to the Rules
Mike Tyson has requested a modification to the standard boxing rules for his upcoming fight against Jake Paul on July 20th at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The match, which will be broadcast on Netflix PPV, involves shortening the round duration from three minutes to two. This change aims to accommodate the 58-year-old former champion's conditioning.
The fight marks Tyson's return to a professionally sanctioned match after last competing in 2005. Tyson explained his request by stating, "I wanted shorter rounds for more action. If we have shorter rounds, we'll fight more. More action." On the other hand, Jake Paul, a 27-year-old former YouTuber turned boxer, welcomed the challenge and dismissed concerns about Tyson's age affecting the bout’s intensity. "Age doesn’t matter. Age is just a number. He’s a killer and a warrior. It’s going to be a firefight with more punches," said Paul.
The public has expressed skepticism about this matchup, with some fearing that Tyson might be easily defeated unless the outcome is predetermined. Accusations have circulated suggesting that the fight might be treated more like an exhibition than a serious contest. Addressing these comments, Paul mentioned, "I go on Instagram comments, and I see them saying, ‘If Jake wins this fight, it’s rigged,’ because of how incredible he looks."
Overall perception reflects concern over Mike Tyson’s ability to handle a full-length bout due to his age and past performance issues—his last two professional fights ended in defeat from Kevin McBride in 2005 and Danny Williams in 2004. Meanwhile, Jake Paul has built an unconventional yet noteworthy boxing record by taking on various opponents from YouTubers to seasoned fighters.
Mike Tyson remains one of the sport's most iconic figures despite not having fought professionally since 2005—the year he was stopped by McBride. His impressive career prior included 50 wins with 44 knockouts. Jake Paul started as an internet personality but has since transitioned into boxing against opponents from mixed backgrounds, offering him different levels of competitive exposure.
This upcoming bout between these two diverse background fighters attracts significant interest due to its unique setup and implications for both participants' legacies in boxing.
