At the center of an unusual bout lies a friendship between 58-year-old former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and the much younger YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. The friction between the two has fueled the anticipation for a fight that is breaking new ground by being the first-ever combat sports event delivered via Netflix, eschewing traditional pay-per-view and cable avenues.
Paul acknowledged the enthusiastic boos during their public appearances by attributing them to Tyson’s long-time fans, contrasting it with his own persona. “I’m the new kid on the block, the disrupter, loud mouth, polarizing figure,” he remarked. “I’ve built my career as the heel. Naturally, people want to root against me, and that’s great for the sport of boxing.”
Tyson’s first sanctioned professional fight in almost two decades is scheduled for Friday night at the home stadium of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. Anticipation is high, with a crowd of at least 60,000 expected, and Netflix’s global subscriber base of over 280 million getting the bout at no extra cost.
At 27, Paul has a budding boxing career, boasting a 10-1 record with seven knockouts, mostly against mixed martial artists and journeyman boxers. Despite their friendship, Tyson dismissed emotional ties earlier in the week and demonstrated his resolve by slapping Paul during the Thursday weigh-in. Tyson’s actions suggested he took offense to Paul’s approach, declaring, “The talk is over,” while weighing in at 228 pounds. Paul, weighing almost the same at 227 pounds, retorted with, “Now it’s personal,” before storming off the stage.
Tyson, who went 50-6 with 44 knockouts before retiring in 2005 after a loss to Kevin McBride, had last fought in an exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr. during the pandemic in 2020. A previously scheduled fight on July 20 had to be postponed due to a medical emergency for Tyson, who was treated for a stomach ulcer after falling ill on a flight. He revealed in a documentary that he lost 26 pounds during his recovery.
Promoter Nakisa Bidarian, who co-founded Most Valuable Promotions with Paul, confirmed Tyson’s medical clearance and expressed concern for both fighters. “I’m nervous for both men,” Bidarian admitted. “Jake’s never been hit by someone like Mike Tyson flush on the chin. And Mike hasn’t fought someone like Jake for a very long time. That’s what makes this interesting.”
Paul conceived the idea for the fight two years ago, believing Tyson would understand and be intrigued. Despite the long preparation, Tyson seemed irritable during various hype events in Dallas, yet he was more contemplative in a private session with reporters. “I’ve been through so many ups and downs since my last fight with Kevin McBride,” Tyson reflected. “I’ve been in rehab, prison, and never in a million years did I believe I’d be doing this.”
Reports indicate that Paul will earn $40 million from the fight, a figure he mentioned during a New York press event in August. Tyson, who has had past legal troubles and financial difficulties, including declaring bankruptcy 21 years ago, is set to receive $20 million. Tyson has stressed that money is not his motivation. “That old Mike Tyson… he doesn’t have no more purpose in my life. He just doesn’t exist. I’m having a good time in my life. I don’t have much time left, so I’m having the best time of my life.”
Due to Tyson’s age and history, several states refused to sanction the bout. Texas agreed, but under modified conditions: eight rounds instead of the usual 10 or 12, two-minute rounds instead of three, and heavier gloves to reduce punch power.
Addressing why he chose to fight someone much older, Paul consistently pointed to Tyson’s iconic status. “Talk to Mike and tell Mike that,” Paul said. “He’s the one that wanted it to be a pro fight. As a young person in this sport, I’m not going to pass up the opportunity to fight the GOAT of boxing. It’s like Ja Morant turning down a 1-v-1 against LeBron. It’s not going to happen.”
The event also features a high-profile co-main event — Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano in a championship bout. Paul aimed to highlight women’s boxing after their electrifying encounter at Madison Square Garden in 2022, the first time women headlined an event there. Taylor’s split-decision win was controversial, prompting a rematch for the undisputed super lightweight title, which Bidarian and Paul claim will be the most lucrative women’s sporting event in history.
“A lot of people said the real main event is Taylor-Serrano,” Bidarian commented. “That’s fine if you think that way. Jake has said he’s more excited about that fight than his own. But we wanted to ensure the most eyeballs saw that fight. To be honest, Paul-Tyson draws a bigger audience.”
