Jake Paul, known for his transition from YouTuber to professional boxer, is set to face off against Mike Tyson — the legendary former heavyweight boxing champion. For Paul, this fight represents a full-circle moment as his rise into the spotlight of combat sports came via a knockout victory over former NBA player Nate Robinson during the undercard of Tyson’s exhibition boxing bout with Roy Jones Jr. back in 2020.
Officials have confirmed that Tyson and Paul are scheduled to square off in a boxing showdown on July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. This highly anticipated event will serve as the main attraction of a card set to be broadcast on Netflix — marking the streaming giant’s inaugural venture into combat sports and its third live sporting event overall.
According to Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), the deal between MVP and Netflix for the boxing card was finalized last November 1.
“Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson is a once-in-a-lifetime dream matchup and I anticipate it will be the most-watched boxing event in modern boxing history,” Bidarian said in a statement.
It is yet to be determined whether it will be classified as a professional fight or an exhibition — that decision will be made by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
Tyson showcased impressive form during his exhibition bout against Jones on November 28, 2020, resulting in a draw. Since retiring in 2005 after two consecutive losses, Tyson hasn’t competed professionally. Born in New York City, the former undisputed heavyweight champion held the title from 1987 to 1990. Now, he will face an opponent who is 30 years younger (27) than him.
“[Paul has] grown significantly as a boxer over the years, so it will be a lot of fun to see what the will and ambition of a ‘kid’ can do with the experience and aptitude of a GOAT,” Tyson said in a statement. “It’s a full-circle moment that will be beyond thrilling to watch, as I started him on his boxing journey on the undercard of my fight with Roy Jones, and now I plan to finish him.”
“It’s crazy to think that in my second pro fight I went viral for knocking out Nate Robinson on Mike Tyson’s undercard,” Paul said in a statement. “Now, less than four years later, I’m stepping up to face Tyson myself to see if I have what it takes to beat one of boxing’s most notorious fighters and biggest icons. Within just two and a half years of founding MVP, we’re about to produce the biggest fight in history, a fight in the biggest NFL stadium in the US, broadcast live, on the biggest streaming platform in the world — a testament to all we’ve accomplished in such a short amount of time.”
Gabe Spitzer, Netflix vice president for nonfiction sports, added a statement of his own to accompany the fight being announced: “Mike Tyson is one of the biggest icons in boxing history and Jake Paul is one of the biggest disruptors in boxing history,” Gabe Spitzer, Netflix vice president for nonfiction sports, said in a statement. “Saturday, July 20 will be pure drama in the ring in Texas. We are thrilled to partner with Most Valuable Promotions for this historic event and we can’t wait for these two to face off for fans all across the world on Netflix.”
