Jake Paul and Mike Tyson will fight in an exhibition boxing match on July 20. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
Tyson vs. Paul comes to life
“Iron” Mike Tyson returns to the ring to take on “Problem Child” Jake Paul in the first boxing event ever broadcast by Netflix on July 20.
Paul only has ten professional fights
At 57 years old (58 on fight night), Tyson has more than twice as much experience as 27-year-old Paul in the game of life. He also fought 58 professional fights and fought many amateur matches, while Paul only fought ten professional fights. The impending confrontation between the two will be recorded as an exhibition match, meaning it will not appear on any of their records.
They say all press is good press, but all this fight indicates is a hundred million dollar disappointment. Let’s talk about that.
A nap is inevitable
Paul is no longer a YouTuber trying his hand at boxing. He’s a legit boxer.
The former Disney star has spent years learning the fascinating science and interacting with a variety of fighters, from YouTube stars to current pros and MMA legends. He said several times that his goal is to become a world champion.
“Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson is a once-in-a-lifetime dream match, and I predict it will be the most watched boxing event in modern boxing history,” said Nakisa Bedarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions.
But with great power comes great responsibility.
The ruse of fighting pensioners must end
Boxing website Boxrec ranks Paul as the 112th ranked cruiserweight in the world, two spots behind Tyson Fury’s half-brother, Tommy Fury, and four spots behind English champion, Vidal Riley. But if Paul wants to be taken seriously in the sport and continue to progress towards his ambitions, the gimmick of fighting retirees must end.
On the one hand, it’s a no-brainer business opportunity for Paul. He previously said the fight could reach $100 million, a number that’s not hard to believe with the first-of-its-kind Netflix deal and the location of AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys.
However, the fight is just another reason why the young American is not taken seriously as a fighter. Tyson was the most feared man alive in his heyday, but he has been out of the game since 2005 and appeared to be taking it easy when he fought Roy Jones Jr. in an exhibition bout in 2020, a card on which Paul first made a name for himself by knocking out the superstar. Former NBA Nate Robinson.
Tyson and Paul weigh in
This is only the fourth time in Paul’s 12 fights that he will fight an actual boxer, and it will be the third time they will both be at least 35 years old (and in this case, not far from twice that number).
To his credit, his last two fights were against real boxers. He knocked out Andre Auguste in the first round in December 2023, then knocked out Ryan Borland in the first round of his last fight on March 2.
Now I plan to finish it.”
“[Paul has] “I have developed greatly as a boxer over the years, so it will be a lot of fun to see what ‘The Kid’s’ will and ambition can do with the experience and competence of the GOAT,” Tyson said in a statement. “It’s a complete moment that will be more than exciting to watch, as I started it on my boxing journey on the undercard of my fight with Roy Jones, and now I plan to finish it.”
“It’s crazy to think that in my second professional fight, I went viral after knocking out Bennett Robinson on the undercard of Mike Tyson,” Paul said in a statement. “Now, less than four years later, I’m stepping up to face Tyson myself to see if I have what it takes to beat one of boxing’s most famous fighters and biggest icons.”
During an appearance on the podcast two years ago, Tyson said he could beat Paul “with ease.” In fact, he is in a position where he cannot lose, while Paul is in a position where he cannot win.
