Social media star turned prizefighter Jake Paul and boxing legend Mike Tyson will meet in the ring in Texas on November 15, Friday. The 27-year-old Paul, who is more than three decades junior to 58-year-old Tyson, said he hoped for a vintage performance from "Iron Mike," who will be fighting in his first professional bout since 2005.
Mike Tyson, known as the "Baddest Man on the Planet," was one of the most fearsome heavyweight champions of all time during his heyday in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but the fight with Paul had to be rescheduled from July due to the 58-year-old's ulcer flare-up in late May. He slapped Paul as they faced off following the weigh-in Thursday night.
Tyson appeared to take offense to the way Paul approached him for the faceoff, but didn't bother explaining. "The talk is over," Tyson, who checked in at 228 pounds, said when one of the hosts tried to ask a question. "Now it's personal," Paul screamed into a microphone before storming off the stage. Paul weighed 227 pounds.
Ahead of the much-anticipated Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul showdown, here are five things for you to know:
1. Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson bout is part of a first-ever combat sports offering from the streaming platform Netflix rather than pay-per-view or traditional cable. It will be available at no additional cost to the more than 280 million Netflix subscribers globally. The broadcast will feature live commentary in English, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French and German.
2. Tyson's first sanctioned professional fight in almost 20 years is set for Friday night local time (ET) at the home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. A crowd of at least 60,000 is expected while Netflix offers the bout at no additional cost to more than 280 million subscribers globally. He last fought in an exhibition against Roy Jones Jr. with no fans during the pandemic in 2020.
3. Texas agreed to a fight that was eight rounds instead of 10 or 12, with two-minute rounds instead of three, and heavier gloves designed to lessen the power of punches.
4. The fight will consist of eight two-minute rounds, instead of the regulation three-minute rounds, and each fighter will use 14-ounce gloves instead of the standard 10 ounces to limit punching power.
5. Ahead of the fight, the Paul vs. Tyson public weigh-in begins at 7:00 pm ET (5:30 am IST). Combat sports announcer Kody "Big Mo" Mommaerts emcees, with reporting from Ariel Helwani onstage. British sports broadcaster Kate Scott will co-host the weigh-ins desk, Netflix said in an official release.