This was published 6 months ago
Mike Tyson, 57, announces boxing return for Netflix fight against Jake Paul
By Gareth A Davies
Mike Tyson is to fight the YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a bout that will be live-streamed on Netflix.
Tyson, 57, was known as the “Baddest Man on the Planet” in his heyday while Paul, 27, has spoken of his ambition to become a professional world champion.
The fight will take place on July 20 at the AT&T Stadium in Texas. It will be the second time Paul and Tyson have appeared together at a boxing event.
Paul fought in the co-main event of a pay-per-view night in 2020 when Tyson took part in an exhibition bout against Roy Jones jnr. That was Tyson’s first return to the ring since 2006.
That night was Paul’s second professional boxing match. He knocked out the former NBA player Nate Robinson in the second round.
Paul now has a record of nine wins, one loss, with six knockouts on his resume while Tyson’s career saw him achieve 50 professional wins from 58 fights, with a staggering 44 by knockout.
Mike Tyson at an NFL match between the Raiders and Pittsburgh in Las Vegas in September.Credit: AP
Tyson holds the record as the youngest ever heavyweight champion after claiming his first belt at 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old, before becoming the first man to unify the WBA, WBC and IBF titles. Tyson reigned as undisputed champion from 1987 to 1990.
“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.
“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 2½ years of founding MVP [Paul’s promotional company Most Valuable Promotions] 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.
“My sights are set on becoming a world champion, and now I have a chance to prove myself against the greatest heavyweight champion ever, the baddest man on the planet and the most dangerous boxer of all time.”
Tyson said: “I’m very much looking forward to stepping into the ring with Jake Paul. He’s 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.
“It’s a full circle moment that will be beyond thrilling to watch; as I started him off on his boxing journey on the undercard of my fight with Roy Jones and now I plan to finish him.”
Telegraph, London
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