On July 20, the former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, 57, will face 27-year-old ex-YouTuber Jake Paul at the 80,000-seater AT&T Stadium in Texas. This marks Tyson’s return to the ring after his exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr ended in a draw in 2020. The upcoming bout against Paul will be a sanctioned fight, adding an extra level of significance for both fighters. Tyson announced the fight on his personal X account, tweeting a photo of the fight promotion poster and confirming that it will indeed be a real sanctioned fight.
The match is reported to be an eight-round contest with two-minute rounds and will feature 14-ounce gloves, different from the traditional 10oz ones Tyson used in his previous fights. This fight will be Tyson’s first sanctioned bout in nearly 19 years, with his last official fight dating back to 2005 when he lost to Kevin McBride via a technical knockout. Tyson currently holds a record of 50 victories, with 44 of them coming by knockout, and six losses. His infamous rematch with Evander Holyfield, which ended due to Tyson biting his opponent, is included in his record.
Tyson expressed his initial nervousness about the upcoming fight but emphasized that as the fight draws closer, he feels less fearful as he faces the reality of the situation. This fight marks a significant moment for both Tyson and Paul, bringing together a mix of experience and youthful energy in the boxing world.
