Jake Paul will lock horns with a significantly faded version of Mike Tyson on November 15, headlining Netflix’s first ever live boxing event.
As a professional boxer, the YouTube star has mostly fought former UFC champions such as Anderson Silva, Nate Diaz and Tyron Woodley, amassing 10 victories in total.
And yet, in his showdown against Tommy Fury – in truth, a relatively limited, but nonetheless professional, boxer – ‘The Problem Child’ was ultimately outboxed through eight rounds, suffering his first blemish.
Even so, Jake Paul has now convinced Mike Tyson, a once formidable heavyweight champion, to come out of retirement for a monumental payday.
Anthony Taylor shares his honest thoughts on Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson
‘Iron Mike’ became the youngest world heavyweight champion of all time back in 1986, claiming his WBC trinket with a second-round stoppage over Trevor Berbick.
The pulverizing puncher then went on to enjoy a scintillating reign before running into James ‘Buster’ Douglas, who caused one of the biggest upsets in sporting history.
Still, Tyson had a vastly successful career before calling it quits in 2005, following his crushing sixth-round stoppage loss to Kevin McBride.
Yet now, the 58-year-old will return to a professional boxing ring for the first time in nearly 15 years.
Based on Tyson’s age, then, Paul’s former sparring partner, Anthony Taylor, has suggested that the internet sensation will be critiqued regardless of whether he wins or loses.
“No one knows the outcome that’s gonna happen,” Taylor told Action Network. “Let’s say Jake Paul goes in there and destroys Mike Tyson. We can all sit here and say, ‘well, I told you Mike Tyson is old. Jake is younger.’
“Tyson goes in there and destroys Jake – ‘look, I told you Mike Tyson’s nobody to play with. Look what he just did to Jake.’
“No one’s going to be satisfied, but the outcome is still going to be the same. Jake beats Tyson. Jake is considered the younger fighting an old guy. Tyson beats Jake. Tyson is considered still dangerous.”
What are the rules for Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson?
Paul, of course, has already been heavily criticized for taking on a man who is more than 30 years his senior.
But regardless, the 27-year-old will collide with Tyson at the AT&T Stadium, Texas, in a professional bout – or rather, a professional bout with certain rule changes.
Their gloves, for instance, will weigh four ounces more than the gloves traditionally used by professional heavyweight boxers, offering both combatants greater protection if nothing else.
On top of that, the rounds will last two minutes as opposed to three, something that, one suspects, would favor the legs of an aging Tyson.