Facepalms after dangerous Mike Tyson, Jake Paul announcement

Mike Tyson and Jake Paul have announced a big change to their upcoming fight with news that has left some concerned.

Mike Tyson is going to be making the walk to the ring for real this time.

Tyson’s upcoming July bout against Jake Paul has been sanctioned, Most Valuable Promotions announced on Tuesday morning (AEST), marking the former heavyweight champion’s first official fight since 2005.

The fight will featured eight two-minute rounds with 14-ounce gloves, will count for Tyson’s sparkling 50-6 record and will be contested at heavyweight, The New York Post reports.

The controversial fight is set for the 80,000-seat AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas.

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Paul was quick to promote the fight’s legitimacy straight after the news was announced.

“What yall going to say now,” Paul posted on Twitter.

“Mike Tyson wanted it to be a pro fight. Netflix wanted it to be a pro fight. So I agreed to make it a pro fight. Winner takes all.”

He described it as the “biggest event of the year” in a message shared on Instagram.

That this fight is sanctioned is noteworthy since Tyson’s last fight against Roy Jones Jr. in November 2020 did not secure sanctioned approval.

It instead was labelled as an exhibition and had special rules with no winner declared.

Fans have been left terrified by Mike Tyson's latest training video.

Tyson, who will be 58 when he fights Paul, has been posting several social media videos and pictures of his extensive training for the bout, not just for fight promotion but also likely as proof to Texas regulators that he is fit to battle “The Problem Child.”

While Tyson’s running left much to be desired from social media critics, his combinations drew plenty of memories reminiscent of the past fury that blew past his competition in the 1980s and 1990s.

The fact the sideshow alley fight has been sanctioned left some fight commentators shaking their heads.

Tyson has not been in an official fight since he was knocked out by Kevin McBride in 2005.

Paul meanwhile, is 27-years’ old and has a record of 9-1 with his only defeat at the hands of Tyson Fury’s brother Tommy in February, 2023.

Boxing guru Dan Rafael said it all with the use of just one facepalm emoji.

🤦🏻‍♂️ https://t.co/vZHC90v0T5

— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) April 29, 2024

The betting community has responded overwhelmingly positively to Tyson, making him nearly even-money with Paul.

“Mike Tyson and Jake Paul signed on to fight each other with the desire to do so in a sanctioned professional fight that would have a definitive outcome,” Most Valuable Promotions co-founder Nakisa Bidarian said in a press release.

Jake Paul and Mike Tyson.

“Over the past six weeks, MVP has worked with its partners to satisfy the requirements of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR) to sanction Paul vs Tyson, and we are grateful that we have reached this point.”

lso shockingly said he gave up weed and sex in the lead-up to the bout as he looks to stay focused on training.

His publicist told USA Today that Tyson is not using weed since it is a banned substance according to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, which oversees the state’s combat sports.

— This story originally appeared in The New York Post and has been republished with permission