YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul is taking on one of boxing’s greatest ever fighters this summer in former undisputed world champion Mike Tyson.
The heavyweight bout is being labelled by some as Paul’s toughest test yet, despite the 30-year age gap between him and Tyson.
Here’s everything you need to know about the hotly anticipated fight and how to watch.
Who are the fighters?
Jake Paul, 27, is an American YouTube star who made a name for himself on social media platform Vine. He made his professional boxing debut in 2020.
His most high-profile fight so far was his clash with Tyson Fury’s brother Tommy Fury last year, which he lost by split decision.
Paul and Fury at weigh-in last year. Pic: Reuters/Ahmed Yosri
“The Problem Child” has since defeated former UFC contender Nate Diaz, professional boxer Andre August and former Gold Gloves champion Ryan Bourland to earn himself a boxing record of 9-1.
‘Iron Mike’ Tyson, who will have turned 58 by the time of the fight, retired from professional boxing in 2005 with a 50-6 record and as a former undisputed heavyweight champion.
The fighter, who knocked out 44 opponents during his career, returned to the ring after 15 years in 2020 for a bout against fellow boxing legend Roy Jones, which ended in an unofficial draw.
Mike Tyson (black trunks) fights Roy Jones, Jr in 2020 bout. Pic: Joe Scarnici/USA Today Sports
Tyson’s fighting skills place him among the best heavyweight boxers of all time, in the eyes of many observers.
But the age gap between him and Paul along with some potential ring rust are expected to somewhat level the playing field.
When is the fight and where will it be?
The bout is due to take place at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday 20 July. The 80,000-seat capacity stadium is home of the Dallas Cowboys and is the biggest NFL stadium in the US.
The start-time of the fight has not been confirmed yet, but there’s a five-hour time difference between Texas and the UK, meaning that if it starts at 10pm local time, viewers in the UK would need to be up at 3am to see it.
AT&T Stadium. Pic: AP/Tony Gutierrez
And where can I watch the coverage?
It will be aired on Netflix in what will be the first live fight ever on the streaming platform.
Jake Paul, who co-founded Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) in 2021, said his company signed with Netflix because they are “the biggest streaming platform in the world”.
Fellow MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian added: “Partnering with Netflix for this deal presents an unparalleled opportunity to bring Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson to the world on an unprecedented scale.”
Do I need to pay for the fight?
Some good news for Netflix users; there is no additional cost for the streaming platform’s subscribers.
It’s not a pay-per-view event, but you won’t be able to watch it unless you have a Netflix account, which costs between £4.99 and £17.99 depending on what sort of plan you subscribe to.
Can I buy tickets?
Tickets are not on sale yet, but you can sign up for pre-sale tickets on MVP’s website, which Paul’s promo company says offers exclusive access to tickets 48 hours before the public.
‘The fight of a lifetime’
Paul is not typically known for showing respect to his opponents. In the lead-up to his last fight against Tommy Fury, which he lost on points, Paul said Tyson Fury’s brother “boxes because he was told to do so by his dad”.
“He doesn’t have that real heart, that real fighter inside of him,” he added.
Few, however, would question Mike Tyson’s credentials, with Paul having adopted a more respectful approach to promoting the fight so far.
“My sights are set on becoming a world champion, and now I have a chance to prove myself against the greatest heavyweight champion ever – the baddest man on the planet and the most dangerous boxer of all time,” he said, adding: “This will be the fight of a lifetime.”
‘I plan to finish him’
It’s a different kind of challenge for ring veteran Tyson.
The 57-year-old suggests he still has fuel left in the tank, and his rhetoric so far has indicated he is not taking this fight lightly.
“I’m very much looking forward to stepping into the ring with Jake Paul,” Tyson said.
“He’s 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 [Greatest Of All Time].
“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.”
What about the undercard?
No other fights for the night have been announced yet, but watch this space, as we’ll be updating this article as soon as more information comes out.
