Mike Tyson and Jake Paul are set to face off in a boxing match on November 15. The bout will stream on Netflix, marking a new venture for the platform into live sports entertainment.
The fight will consist of eight rounds, each lasting two minutes. Both fighters will wear 14 oz gloves, and the result will count on their professional records. This match-up was originally planned for July but got pushed back due to a medical issue Tyson experienced.
Tyson, who's almost 60, hasn't fought professionally since 2005. Paul, not yet 30, has had 11 fights in his career. He's known for early stoppages but suffered his first loss to Tommy Fury.
The age gap between the fighters has sparked controversy and safety concerns. Deontay Wilder, a former WBC champion known for his knockout power, shared his thoughts with talkSPORT.
"I think it's bad the commission has licensed Mike Tyson because he hasn't been active in 20 years, so they should not just licence him because of who he is, that's how people get hurt, god forbid he gets hurt. People can get hit in the wrong place and at the wrong time, there's lots of examples where guys have been hit into a coma. It's easy to do. He's too old for this."
Wilder didn't hold back in his criticism of those involved in making the fight happen.
"At the end of the day, no one gives a f*** about Mike. We can talk about the pros and cons, but at the end of the day, they don't give a f***. I don't think anyone cares about Mike because if they did they wouldn't sanction the fight."
The former champion also expressed concerns about the quality of the fight.
"They may say they've done tests and all that, ok, but as long as you're willing to suffer the consequences if something bad goes wrong. His power may not have left completely but you still need to set it up, your stamina needs to be a certain way, or it's going to look like a clown show."
Wilder's comments come as he weighs up his own future in boxing after back-to-back losses in his last two fights. His concerns about Tyson's safety and the potential spectacle of the event add to the ongoing debate surrounding this unique matchup.
As the fight date approaches, all eyes will be on how Tyson, a boxing legend, performs against the younger, less experienced Paul. The boxing world waits with bated breath to see if this cross-generational bout will live up to the hype or confirm the fears of critics like Wilder.
