Mike Tyson to face Jake Paul in exhibition bout, not official fight

Former world champion Mike Tyson is gearing up for a highly anticipated exhibition bout against YouTuber Jake Paul on 20 July, but he wants to make one thing clear – this is not just a friendly sparring session.

Tyson, who retired from professional boxing in 2005, will be facing the 27-year-old Paul in Texas, just three weeks after celebrating his 58th birthday. Despite the label of an exhibition match, Tyson insists that this will be a real fight, not just a show for the fans.

“This is called an exhibition, but if you look up ‘exhibition’ you will not see any of the rules we will be fighting under. This is a fight,” Tyson boldly stated.

The bout, which will not affect their professional records, will be broadcast live on Netflix and will take place at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation has confirmed that the event has been approved, but specific details about the fight have not been disclosed.

In an exhibition fight, the combatants wear bigger gloves, have two-minute rounds, and fight in fewer rounds than a sanctioned professional bout. There are no judges, and no winner is declared at the end of the match.

Tyson, who last fought in an exhibition against Roy Jones Jr in 2020, is no stranger to the ring. With 50 wins and six defeats in his professional career, he is ready to take on the challenge presented by Paul, who has won nine of his 10 boxing fights.

As the countdown to the exhibition bout begins, fans are eagerly anticipating the clash between the seasoned veteran and the rising star in what promises to be an electrifying showdown.