Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson set for July 20 in Texas
March 7 saw a shock announcement that revealed YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul will be facing retired heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson on July 20 at the AT&T Stadium in Texas, live and free on Netflix.
Jake Paul tweeted the shock news, confirming the fight and agreed weight: “He’s the greatest heavyweight of all time… the most vicious KO artist ever. But I’m younger, I’m faster and I’m going to be working my ass off to get stronger. A member of my team sent me this video that Mike’s coach put up two weeks ago and asked me if I’m sure that I want to do this… yes, yes I do. Heavyweight.”
Jake Paul has often been criticised for only fighting retired boxers or MMA fighters, and the first time he actually tested himself against a professional boxer ended in defeat against Brit Tommy Fury in February 2023 at the Diriyah Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Now the 27-year-old ‘Problem Child’ is set to take on another retired boxer, one that is 57-years-old!
Jake Paul only had his last fight days ago, when he knocked out overmatched opponent Ryan Bourland in one round in Puerto Rico on March 3.
30 years his senior, Iron Mike’s last professional bout was almost 20 years ago, in 2005. The once feared ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’ lost three from his last four fights, retiring around his 39th birthday.
He won his pro debut in 107 seconds against Hector Mercedes in New York in 1985; 12 years before Jake Paul was even born.
Paul tweeted: “This event is not a PPV. Free to all 260 million Netflix subscribers… 500 million plus homes.”
The official Netflix Twitter account shared the promo video for the fight: “It’s JAKE PAUL vs. MIKE TYSON — yes, really! — in a LIVE BOXING event at AT&T Stadium you won’t want to miss. Airing live on Netflix Saturday, July 20 #PaulTyson”
It’s JAKE PAUL vs. MIKE TYSON — yes, really! — in a LIVE BOXING event at AT&T Stadium you won’t want to miss. Airing live on Netflix Saturday, July 20 #PaulTysonpic.twitter.com/ULXVeCYeH6
— Netflix (@netflix) March 7, 2024
Here are just some of the reactions to the breaking news:
“Old enough to be his grandad.”
“Jake Paul’s a good boxer and Mike’s obviously not in his prime anymore, but if Mike loses or this is a tie then we absolutely know for sure that this is faked, or at least staged.”
“We know if Jake Paul win vs Tyson boxing is rigged.”
“I said it once and I will say it again. Jake Paul claiming to be a boxer while preying on retired combat sports athletes who have sustained a career’s worth of injuries is one of the most utterly pathetic displays of cowardice I have ever seen in my entire life. Mike Tyson is 57 years old. Stop encouraging this clown. You’re a joke @jakepaul Netflix – you’re a joke for promoting it as well.”