The upcoming Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson showdown has garnered much criticism and intrigue. Tyson is one of the greatest professional boxers ever and still holds the distinction of being the youngest fighter to win a heavyweight title in the sport. Nevertheless, their near-30-year age difference has been a cause of major concern.
Their fight was initially scheduled to take place at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, U.S.A., on July 20, 2024. However, Tyson suffered a health scare on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles back in late May. Resultantly, the fight was postponed.
Paul's MVP Promotions put forth a statement asserting that Tyson was afflicted by an ulcer flare-up. The doctors advised him to step away from his grueling training, stick to light training for a few weeks, and then resume his all-out training for the fight.
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The Paul vs. Tyson showdown was rebooked to transpire at the same venue, the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The event will be held on Nov. 15, 2024.
Since rumors regarding the matchup started circulating in late 2023, one of the biggest questions has been whether or not it'll be sanctioned as a professional boxing bout.
After the fight was officially announced in March 2024, speculation abounded that it might be booked as an exhibition, given Tyson's age and that he hadn't competed in a pro boxing match since June 2005. His last boxing match was an exhibition bout against Roy Jones Jr. in Nov. 2020.
A recent ESPN report indicated that the fight will be sanctioned by the TDLR (Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation) as a professional boxing match. Both pugilists will don 14-ounce gloves and compete in an eight-round match, with each round scheduled to last two minutes. Though most pro bouts have three-minute rounds, this one won't.
The fight will be contested in the heavyweight division, so both fighters would have to weigh 200 pounds or more. While Paul generally competes at cruiserweight, he's believed to have significantly bulked up over several months to fight the legendary Tyson.
Check out the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson trailer below:
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson: 'The Problem Child' expresses respect for 'Iron' ahead of their boxing match
During an interview with Sports Illustrated earlier this month, Jake Paul (10-1, 7 KOs) was asked to rank the greatest heavyweights in the sport's history ahead of his fight against Mike Tyson (50-6, 2 No Contests; 44 KOs). 'The Problem Child' ranked Tyson at No.1, Muhammad Ali at No.2, Tyson Fury at No.3, Evander Holyfield at No.4, and George Foreman at No.5.
Check out Jake Paul's comments below (8:58):
Many believe Tyson, who turned 58 in June 2024, is at a major disadvantage due to his age against the 27-year-old Paul. Although the latter isn't considered an elite boxer, he's known to possess decent punching power and youthful athleticism. Furthermore, Tyson has faced health challenges in recent years, adding to worries about his well-being against Paul.