Boxing News: Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson Confirmed, July Netflix Exclusive
"The most-watched boxing event in modern boxing history" is upon us.
At least, that's what Most Valuable Promotions' Nakisa Bidarian had to say about Jake Paul's upcoming fight. The 27-year-old is set to take on legendary boxer 'Iron' Mike Tyson.
The fight will take place at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas, the same venue the Dallas Cowboys play. The headliner is slated for July 20th and will be available to watch live on Netflix, marking the streaming service's first tap into combat sports.
Paul (9-1) steps into the ring with Tyson (50-6), who is 30 years his elder. 'The Problem Child' looks to build off back-to-back KO wins over low-profile pro boxers Andre August and Ryan Bourland.
This isn't the influencer's first time fighting in 'The Lone Star State' as Paul fought UFC superstar Nate Diaz to a unanimous decision victory in Dallas last August.
The soon-to-be 58-year-old Tyson returns to the sport of boxing for the first time since Nov. 2020. Tyson fought fellow legend Roy Jones Jr. to a draw while Paul scored a knockout of NBA star Nate Robinson on his undercard.
Almost four years later, they face off with each other instead. The fight itself has yet to be deemed as a professional fight or merely an exhibition.
"It's crazy to think that in my second pro fight I went viral for knocking out Nate Robinson on Mike Tyson's undercard," Paul said in a statement (via ESPN). "Now, less than four years later, I'm stepping up to face Tyson myself to see if I have what it takes to beat one of boxing's most notorious fighters and biggest icons.
"Within just two and a half years of founding MVP, we're about to produce the biggest fight in history, a fight in the biggest NFL stadium in the US, broadcast live, on the biggest streaming platform in the world -- a testament to all we've accomplished in such a short amount of time."
Tyson hasn't competed as a pro since a 2005 loss to Kevin McBride. Before his retirement, 'Iron' Mike was known for his vicious power and ruthless knockouts of opponents.
Out of 50 victories, 44 ended within the distance. Tyson ruled over the heavyweight division as the undisputed champion from 1987 to 1990.
Far past the glory days of his prime, Mike Tyson is still confident he can stop Paul in their matchup that serves as a 'full-circle moment' for both men.
"[Paul has] 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," Tyson said in a statement. "It's a full-circle moment that will be beyond thrilling to watch, as I started him on his boxing journey on the undercard of my fight with Roy Jones, and now I plan to finish him."
Netflix vice president for non-fiction sports Gabe Spitzer spoke to the magnitude of the unprecedented boxing match.
"Mike Tyson is one of the biggest icons in boxing history and Jake Paul is one of the biggest disruptors in boxing history," Spitzer said in a statement. "Saturday, July 20 will be pure drama in the ring in Texas. We are thrilled to partner with Most Valuable Promotions for this historic event and we can't wait for these two to face off for fans all across the world on Netflix."
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