Big news has been announced about the fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson. It is no longer an exhibition match, but rather a sanctioned pro fight.
Jake Paul, a YouTuber turned boxer, and Mike Tyson, the former unified heavyweight champion, are set to face each other in a professionally sanctioned bout on July 20th. This fight will be held at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and will be available on Netflix.
According to Boxing News 24, The Texas Commission has approved the fight, making it an official entry in their professional records.
Tyson, who will be 58 by the fight date, is returning to the ring for the first time since 2005. He holds a record of 50 wins (44 KOs) and 6 losses, while Jake Paul has a record of 9 wins (6 KOs) and 1 loss.
The decision by the Texas Commission to classify this match as a professional fight has been met with criticism, especially concerns about Tyson’s well being given his age and the potential risks involved.
There’s also speculation on how Paul will approach the fight, considering the possible backlash if he were to significantly injure Tyson. Furthermore, Tyson hasn’t looked his best in his last professional fights, losing to lower-tier heavyweights Kevin McBride and Danny Williams.
In terms of implications, it’s widely viewed that Paul’s primary motive is financial rather than enhancing his reputation in boxing. Winning against Tyson might not elevate his status significantly, and a loss could be detrimental, although he might attribute it to fighting above his usual cruiserweight class.
For Tyson, while a loss to a much younger influencer could be seen as a low point, the substantial financial gain from this match could be a silver lining. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Tyson’s current fortune is estimated at $10 million, and this fight promises to boost his earnings significantly.