Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson will make a professional boxing comeback at the age of 58, against influencer-cum-boxer Jake Paul, in Texas on Saturday [AEDT].
The fight, the first streamed live on Netflix, is expected to be one of the most watched sporting events of the year.
There will be appeal for nostalgic sports fans curious as to whether Tyson – dubbed “The Baddest Man on the Planet” – can still bring the menace in his first professional fight in 19 years. Paul, who rose to prominence as a viral Youtuber, will attract an altogether different demographic.
The fight is scheduled for eight two-minute rounds and the fighters will use 14-ounce gloves, significantly heavier than usual, that will make it harder to knock each other out.
Who is Jake Paul?
Jake Paul is a professional boxer who rose to fame as a social media star. By the time he was 16 years old, he had 5.3 million followers and more than two billion views online. He launched his own Youtube channel and fell into boxing when he challenged a rival influencer in the ring in 2018.
Why is he fighting Mike Tyson?
Put simply, for the money. In August, Paul said “I’m here to make [US] $40 million and knock out a legend.”
Paul also craves recognition as a legitimate pugilist and is aiming to become just the sixth man to inflict a professional loss on the heavyweight legend. Given Tyson is 31 years older and well past his best, bookmakers have installed Paul as the overwhelming favourite.
What is his boxing record?
After beating English YouTuber Deji Olatunji in his amateur debut, Paul has compiled a professional record of 10 wins (seven knockouts) and one loss. The most impressive scalp is a win over former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, albeit Silva was 47 at the time. Paul’s only loss was a split-decision result in favour of Tommy Fury, brother of former world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury.
Mike Tyson and Jake Paul face off before their fight.Credit: Getty Images
Why is it only on Netflix?
This is the first live fight foray for Netflix, via a partnership with Paul’s promotional firm, Most Valuable Promotions. It means there won’t be an additional charge for Netflix subscribers, despite Paul’s pulling power as a pay-per-view attraction (his bout against Fury notched more than 800,000 sales).
Given Netflix has almost 283 million subscribers worldwide, it has the potential to be one of the most watched boxing events in history.
What time does it start and where can I watch it?
Netflix coverage of the event – from the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas – begins at midday on Saturday [AEDT]. The starting price for a Netflix subscription is $7.99 per month. There will be seven fights on the program, with the main undercard bout between two of the world’s best female fighters, Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, for Taylor’s IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO women’s super-lightweight titles. Taylor won their first fight, via split decision, in 2022.
Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
