what you need to know before the long-awaited fight between the two boxers

Mike Tyson’s opponent, a 27-year-old videographer, became known in 2013 on the Vine application, where he published short humorous videos with his older brother Logan. The two brothers then launched themselves on YouTube, where they now have more than 20 million subscribers each.

Streamed on Netflix

From 2018, the Paul brothers gradually approached the boxing world and organized exhibition fights with other YouTubers. Since 2020, Jake Paul has fought professionally in boxing against opponents of different renown: MMA (mixed martial arts) fighters, former basketball player Nate Robinson and, more recently, two relatively little-recognized professional boxers. His record is ten victories for one defeat, which occurred in February 2022 against Tommy Fury, brother of world champion Tyson Fury.

The fight was initially scheduled to pit big brother Logan Paul against Mike Tyson in February 2022, but the event was postponed as the former world champion suffered from chronic sciatica. It was finally a fight against Jake Paul which was first announced for July 20, 2024, then postponed because Mike Tyson suffered from an ulcer. The fight will finally take place on the evening of this Friday, November 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and will be broadcast on Netflix.

Controversies

The fight will be officially recognized as professional and not as an exhibition fight, despite a limited duration (eight two-minute rounds) and thicker than standard gloves. The organization of the event caused a lot of talk, particularly because of the age difference between the two boxers (over 30 years old). Some accuse Jake Paul of only facing opponents at the end of his career and making it his business, while others, such as champion Deontay Wilder, are concerned about seeing Mike Tyson return to the ring at almost 60 years old.

According to Carl Froch, former world boxing champion, the fight would even be “settled in advance”. The Englishman assures in an interview with the British media “Metro” that there is “something in the contract which stipulates that Tyson cannot even try to hurt” the YouTuber.