Few could have guessed at the beginning of the year that one of the most anticipated combat sports events of the summer would be Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson, yet here we are.
Anticipation is slowly growing roughly two months out from the spectacle, and the YouTube star-turned-boxer and the former lineal heavyweight champion took part in a press conference Monday to promote the event set for July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas and airing live on Netflix worldwide.
“I respect them taking this fight, for stepping up to put an end to me because that’s what all these fighters have been trying to do is end the YouTuber. If Mike can do that he’s a hero,” Paul said from the Apollo Theater in Harlem, N.Y., where he and Tyson answered questions from gathered media and fans. “On July 20, I’m going to show the world I can out-box Mike Tyson and prove everyone wrong.”
Tyson will be 58 when he steps into the ring in July, while Paul will be 27. Tyson last competed in 2020 when he fought Roy Jones Jr., to a draw in an eight-round exhibition match during which both former champions gave a solid account of themselves as athletes in their 50s. Tyson finished his professional career in 2005 going 50-6 with a pair of no-contests.
Despite the unconventional matchup with Paul, their eight-round heavyweight tilt will be counted as a pro bout after being sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations earlier this month.
There will be no headgear worn, the fighters will wear 14-ounce gloves and the rounds will be two minutes in duration instead of three.
“I wanted the shorter rounds because I wanted more action,” Tyson explained. “If we only have two minutes we’ll fight more.”
Paul agreed by saying: “It’s going to be a firefight. More punches and it’s going to be a sprint in there, so I think it’s going to be more entertaining for the fans.”
Tyson then interjected to mention he’s been doing a lot of sprints to prepare, which got some laughter from those attending the press conference.
“I really like Jake a lot but once he’s in that ring he has to fight like his life is depending on it because it will be,” Tyson said. “I think the people that said (I’m too old for this fight) wish they were up here because who else can do this? Who else can shut the sporting world down? No one else can do this. We’re friends, there’s no doubt we’re friends, but in the ring we’re not going to be friends.”
Paul described himself as a “natural born heavyweight” and said he’s weighing in the 230s currently, confident he will be able to take Tyson’s punches. He also believes the crowd support will be split evenly in the lead-up to the fight.
“I think it’s 50/50,” Paul said. “I truly believe there’s a lot of people who see me as an arrogant asshole, which I can be sometimes, but I’m just having fun and entertaining the world and I do think that the older generation wants to see Mike knock me out, but at the end of the day I also have the kids, the middle schoolers, the high schoolers, the college students rooting for me and want to see me end Mike.”
Paul has a 9-1 pro boxing record with notable wins over former UFC champions Anderson Silva, Tyron Woodley, plus UFC star Nate Diaz all since 2021.
Joining Paul and Tyson on stage Monday were women’s boxing stars Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano who are scheduled to meet in a rematch in the co-main event. Taylor (23-1) won a 10-round split decision over Serrano (46-2-1) when the fought for the undisputed lightweight title two years ago.
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