The biggest combat sports spectacle of 2024 is inbound. "Iron" Mike Tyson boxes professionally for the first time in nearly two decades against Jake Paul, a controversial boxer with a massive youth edge.
Paul vs. Tyson should draw more eyes than any combat sports event this year. This is a credit to the headliners' wide reach, but most importantly, the fight will stream to Netflix's reported 282 million subscribers at no extra cost. It's a puzzling fight that raises the question: how competitive will Tyson, 58, be against an athletic opponent 31 years his junior?
"Yeah, it's cute. I fear no man. So I want him to be that old savage Mike," Paul said. "He says he's going to kill me. I'm ready. I want that killer. I want the hardest match possible Friday night, and I want there to be no excuses from everyone at home when I knock him out."
Things got heated at the ceremonial weigh ins on Thursday when after stepping off the scale and preparing for the final faceoff, Tyson slapped Paul square across the face before the two were separated. An enraged Tyson stormed off the stage as Paul continued to troll the living legend.
For better or worse, Jake Paul and Mike Tyson are set to clash on Nov. 15. The bout comes after delays and concerns over whether a fight between the 27-year-old Paul and 58-year-old Tyson should actually share the boxing ring.
While there are plenty of questions and concerns heading into the bout, it is guaranteed to draw tremendous amounts of both attention and money. The heavyweight fight will take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas and will stream live on Netflix (more on that below).
Tyson, the former undisputed heavyweight champion, has not fought a professional fight since 2005 when he retired in his corner in a bout with Kevin McBride. While troubles plagued his life, including three years in prison after being convicted of rape in 1992, Tyson has rehabilitated his public image over the past decade.
"I'm just ready to fight. I've said everything I had to say," Tyson said at the final press conference. "There's nothing else to say. I'm just looking forward to fighting."
Paul went from social media superstar to someone who decided to dabble in boxing, only to find the sport appealed to him on a deeper level. He has since built himself into one of the biggest box office draws in the sport while piling up a 10-1 record with seven knockouts. Those fights have mostly come against crossover athletes like former NBA star Nate Robinson and former UFC stars Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva and Nate Diaz.