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Jake Paul‘s controversial fight against Mike Tyson has been sanctioned as a professional fight, which would see the result appear on both boxers’ records.
Youtuber-turner-boxer Paul, 27, is slated to face the 57-year-old former undisputed heavyweight champion in Texas on July 20.
It was initially thought that the clash would be an exhibition but on Monday, Tyson wrote on social media: ‘I wasn’t joking when I said this would be a real fight’
‘Iron Mike’ shared a poster promoting the fight, which read: ‘Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson Sanctioned as pro fight – who wins?’
Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions later said that the heavyweight bout will be sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR), with the two fighters competing in 14oz gloves over eight, 2-minute rounds.
‘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,’ MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian said.
Tyson will be 58 by fight night and, according to ESPN, the 31-year age gap between him and Paul represents the biggest in the history of professional boxing.
It will eclipse the 24 years that separated Archie Moore (49) and Mike DiBiase (25) when they met in 1963.
Tyson, 57, has not fought a professional fight for nearly 20 years, since he was beaten by Irishman Kevin McBride. Tyson’s last outing in the ring came in November 2020, when he faced Roy Jones Jr in an exhibition entitled ‘Lockdown Knockdown’.
Tyson’s official record stands at 50 wins (44 knockouts) and six defeats. Paul, on the other hand, has had just 10 professional contests since his debut in 2020.
His only defeat came against Tommy Fury – half-brother of heavyweight king Tyson Fury – with Paul having faced a mix of influencers, MMA fighters and boxers.
This fight with Tyson is being staged at AT&T Stadium – the home of the Dallas Cowboys – on July 20. It will be broadcast by streaming giant Netflix.
And former heavyweight champion Tyson claims to have imposed a strict three-month sex and cannabis ban on himself ahead of his return.
‘I’m living my life disciplined now, so I’m fight disciplined now. In probably six weeks, I haven’t gotten high or had sex,’ Tyson told Forbes.
‘It’s just discipline, it’s doing what you hate to do but doing it like I love it. I hate not being able to not to smoke but I’m doing it like I love it.
‘I hate not being able to sleep with my wife but I’m doing it like I love it, because I want it I won’t do it.’
The co-main event will see Irish boxing legend Katie Taylor take on Amanda Serrano in a rematch for the undisputed world super lightweight crown.
