The upcoming fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson has been the chat of the boxing world for a long time. The outspoken YouTuber will face the former heavyweight champion in Texas during the early hours of tomorrow morning (Saturday, November 16).
The pair, who clashed at a news conference last night, are expected to make their ring entrances at the AT&T Stadium at around 4am GMT. The fight is then scheduled for eight two-minute rounds rather than the typical 10 or 12.
The bout was originally scheduled for July 20 but was postponed after Iron Mike suffered a medical scare. The 58-year-old, who is dubbed the “baddest man on the planet”, is 31 years older than his counterpart which is believed to be the biggest age gap in the history of professional boxing.
The clash is an officially sanctioned professional fight. This means the result will count on both men’s professional records.
Here is everything you need to know about the hotly anticipated clash.
Who is Jake Paul?
Jake Paul rose to fame through posting videos on Vine. He amassed millions of followers before moving to YouTube to post content alongside his brother Logan.
The pair quickly drew in a huge young audience – he now has over 20 million followers – and still posts regular videos.
The 27-year-old began his boxing career in August 2018. He defeated Deji Olatunji, also a YouTuber, by TKO.
Paul has since fought professionally 11 times, including a split decision loss against Tommy Fury in February 2023. He most recently fought Mike Perry on July 20 and won by TKO.
Why is the fight happening?
Jake Paul has made no secret of the fact that he wants to become a world champion boxer. He believes that a victory against Tyson would set him on the path of achieving that goal.
However, more sceptical boxing fans have suggested that his motivation for the fight stems from the huge financial gain that it carries. The bout will be shown live on Netflix and Paul is expected to earn around £30m.
Tyson, on the other hand, is set to be making around £15m. He has not fought professionally since June 2005 and has a history of health issues.
Clash at weigh-in
Mike Tyson controversially slapped Jake Paul at the official weigh-in yesterday. It is reported that the YouTuber stood on Iron Mike’s foot and sparked the outburst.
Security quickly intervened and split the pair up. Paul remained unfazed and struck a yoga pose to the crowd afterwards.
Tyson said after the incident: “Talking’s over,” before leaving with his team. Paul added: “I didn’t even feel it. He’s angry. He’s an angry little elf. Mike Tyson, I thought that was a cute slap.”
What are the fight rules?
The bout is officially a professional fight which means an official winner will be declared. The result will count on Paul’s and Tyson’s records which stand at 10-1-0 and 50-6-0 respectively.
The fight is scheduled for eight rounds of two minutes. This is different to the usual 10 or 12 rounds in professional fights.
The fighters will also use 14oz gloves instead of the usual 10oz. This will lessen the power of their punches.
When and where is the fight?
The fight is being held at the AT&T Stadium which is the home of the Dallas Cowboys. It has a capacity of 80,000 and is located around 20 miles west of Dallas in Texas.
Paul and Tyson are expected to make their ring walks at around 4am tomorrow morning (November 16). The whole card includes seven fights.
How can I watch the fight?
The bout will be streamed live on Netflix from 1am tomorrow. It will be shown at no additional cost to current subscribed.