Jake Paul-Mike Tyson boxing match booked for this summer
Many have stated for Jake Paul (9-1) to be taken seriously as a professional boxer he needs to fight a legitimate boxer instead of retired UFC fighters and no-name regional prizefighters.
Well, they don’t get any more legit than Paul’s next opponent, former WBA, WBC, IBF, and The Ring heavyweight champion Mike Tyson (50-6-2).
Paul announced via social media on Thursday that he and Tyson have signed a contract to fight on July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys. The event can be streamed on Netflix.
“I’m very much looking forward to stepping into the ring with Jake Paul,” Tyson said, via MMA Junkie. “…He's grown significantly as a boxer over the years, so it will be a lot of fun to see what the will and ambition of a 'kid' can do with the experience and aptitude of a GOAT. ... I started him on his boxing journey on the undercard of my fight with Roy Jones, and now I plan to finish him.”
The 57-year-old Tyson was one of the more feared boxers of the mid-to-late 1990s. He started his career 37-0 before suffering his first loss via knockout to Buster Douglas in February 1990 in what is considered one of the biggest upset in professional sports.
Tyson is widely regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the sport’s history; however, he will be 58 when the bout with Paul takes place. Tyson last fought professionally in 2005 when he suffered a sixth-round loss to Kevin McBride via corner retirement. Tyson has fought just eight times over the last two-plus decades, posting a 4-3-1 record.
While Tyson doesn’t stand much to gain from the bout aside from a presumed seven-figure payday, Paul, stands to gain quite a bit.
Despite Tyson’s age, a win over one of the top-five boxers in the history of the sport would be a huge feather in Paul’s cap. In 10 pro fights, Paul has only faced three fighters with actual boxing experience — Tommy Fury, Andre August and Ryan Bourland. All three went to a decision with Fury being the only fighter to beat Paul.
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