The stage is set for the biggest battle in the boxing world, as the former undisputed heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson, gets ready to present himself in the ring with YouTube sensation-turned-professional boxer Jake Paul. It’s an eight-round match this Friday.
The event marks the streaming giant Netflix’s first entry into the sporting world, drawing attention from avid fans and criticizing audiences.
Paul is just 27, but from social media fame to actual sports stardom, he has risen very fast. The Ohio native boasts a professional record of 10-1, with seven knockouts. That momentum was further solidified with a dominating win over Mike Perry-the veteran of UFC and Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship-this past July.
But facing him in the ring is the legendary Tyson, at 58 now, whose career has been running for decades and whose ferocity in the ring was more potent in history.
This is Tyson’s first match in professional boxing after his defeat against Kevin McBride in June 2005. Having retired shortly after that loss, Tyson staged a comeback to the sport in an exhibition match with Roy Jones Jr. in 2020.
He is keen on having his critics believe he can always muster the skills to succeed in this billion-dollar industry with a career record of 50-6 and 44 knockouts at 58 years of age. “I am just ready to fight,” Tyson said confidently during a media event Wednesday evening. He was calm and less eager with words compared to the boisterous presence of Paul.
While Tyson had his focus only on Paul, Paul, 27, was in his element, primed to discuss his upcoming fight. “Excitement. Big fights, big knockouts,”
Paul said, underscoring his goal of invigorating the sport with a more vibrant presence. Paul has said repeatedly that he aspires to become the biggest boxing superstar, drawing a contrast to fighters like Floyd Mayweather Jr., who Paul called out for having bouts that seemed overly strategic and under-intensity.
With such confidence, Paul placed a series of impromptu bets to other fighters who will be present at the event, even wagering as little as $20 if he is defeated by Tyson. The media event saw a collage of the star powers of other boxers, but there was nothing but talk of the much-anticipated Tyson-Paul bout that has held the public’s attention in the past several weeks before the fight.
Tyson, though, remains unruffled by all this circusishness as the fight falls upon him. “The people speak for themselves,” he said when asked about the whole fiasco, his mind totally focused on his opponent as he treated Paul with the same respect due any other boxer.
Tyson’s return to the ring has sparked much debate, but for the former champion, the fight is far from proving his critics wrong; rather, it speaks more of honoring his legacy and going back into the ring the way he wants.
Originally scheduled for 20 July, the bout was moved forward due to an ulcer flare-up Tyson developed. Now, with the action set for AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, a sellout crowd of 70 000 are expected to be in attendance for the high-profile matchup. Still, there are limited tickets available to this enormous turnout.
Main Card it will take off at 8 p.m. ET with a co-feature rematch between the undisputed super lightweight world title as Ireland’s Katie Taylor battles Puerto Rico’s Amanda Serrano. Their earlier bout in May 2022 at Madison Square Garden was an electrifying contest as Taylor outgunned Serrano via a split decision after ten rounds.
This Tyson-Paul bout is full of interesting storylines and contrasting personalities promising to be a defining moment in boxing which blends legacy with new-found fame. Whether Tyson can prove the doubters wrong, or Jake Paul continues to rise to prominence, only time will tell; however, one thing for sure-these are very exciting times, and the world would be watching.