Jake Paul and Mike Tyson have announced that they will fight in Dallas live on Netflix in what is being dubbed the ‘biggest fight of the 21st century’ – despite there being an age gap of 30 years between the two fighters.
It marks a sensational return to the ring for ‘Iron Mike’ who will be 58 by the time he comes up against the 27-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer nicknamed ‘The Problem Child’.
The fight is being held at the 80,000-seater AT&T Stadium in Texas, which is the home of NFL team Dallas Cowboys, and it will be streamed live on Netflix.
The streaming giant has released a teaser video of the bout, showing Paul stepping out of a helicopter and squaring up to Tyson.
Paul, who has 25.9million followers on Instagram, has made no secret of his desire to become a professional world champion. He fought in the co-main event when Tyson and Roy Jones Jnr staged an exhibition bout in 2020, Iron Mike’s first return to the ring since 2006.
‘I’m very much looking forward to stepping into the ring with Jake Paul,’ Tyson said.
‘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.’
Jake Paul will fight boxing legend Mike Tyson at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas later this year
Netflix released a teaser clip showing Paul and Tyson squaring up to announce the fight
It’s JAKE PAUL vs. MIKE TYSON — yes, really! — in a LIVE BOXING event at AT&T Stadium you won’t want to miss. Airing live on Netflix Saturday, July 20 #PaulTyson pic.twitter.com/ULXVeCYeH6
— Netflix (@netflix) March 7, 2024
Paul, who won his latest fight against Ryan Bourland on Saturday, wrote on X: ‘The biggest fight of the 21st century, in the biggest NFL stadium in the US, broadcast live, on the biggest streaming platform in the world…that’s the MVP way.
He also posted on Instagram: ‘It’s time to put Iron Mike to sleep.
‘It’s crazy to think that in my second pro fight, I went viral for knocking out Nate Robinson on Mike Tyson’s undercard.
‘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.
‘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. This will be the fight of a lifetime.’
Paul later shared a video of Tyson in practice just two weeks ago, looking in magnificent condition.
He’s the greatest heavyweight of all time…the most vicious KO artist ever. But I’m younger, I’m faster and I’m going to be working my ass off to get stronger. A member of my team sent me this video that Mike’s coach put up two weeks ago and asked me if I’m sure that I want to… pic.twitter.com/8krsuyYRtz
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) March 7, 2024
The Netflix trailer showed Paul stepping out of a helicopter where he met Tyson on a helipad
The two fighters then squared up against each other as Netflix announced the sensational bout
The shock announcement comes days after Paul beat Ryan Bourland on Saturday
Former heavyweight champion Tyson will be 58 by the time he fights the 27-year-old Paul
‘He’s the greatest heavyweight of all time…the most vicious KO artist ever. But I’m younger, I’m faster and I’m going to be working my a** off to get stronger,’ Paul wrote. ‘A member of my team sent me this video that Mike’s coach put up two weeks ago and asked me if I’m sure that I want to do this…yes, yes I do. Heavyweight.’
Tyson, the former heavyweight champion, returned to the ring in 2020 for an eight-round exhibition fight against Roy Jones Jr in Los Angeles.
His last professional fight was in 2005 and it is unclear if this bout will be categorized as a professional fight or an exhibition event.
He has also been working with Francis Ngannou, the former UFC fighter who has made a crossover into boxing and was narrowly beaten by Tyson Fury. Ngannou fights Anthony Joshua on Friday but Tyson has not been involved with him for this training camp.
Paul, meanwhile, is 9-1 with six KOs on his crossover from YouTuber to boxer. His one loss was to Tommy Fury, younger brother of Tyson.
He has defeated former UFC stars Nate Diaz, Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley as well as journeymen such as Andre August and Bourland.
The event also marks another foray into live sports broadcasting by Netflix, which has also streamed ‘The Netflix Cup’ – a golf event between Formula One drivers and golfers – and a tennis event called Netflix Slam.
Mike Tyson is pictured at the Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury fight in February last year
Fury beat Paul in a split decision at the fight in Saudi Arabia
Paul, who won his latest fight against Ryan Bourland on Saturday, wrote on X: ‘The biggest fight of the 21st century, in the biggest NFL stadium in the US, broadcast live, on the biggest streaming platform in the world…that’s the MVP way.’
Mike Tyson is pictured in Saudia Arabia after Tyson Fury beat Francis Ngannou
Netflix has partnered with Paul’s ‘Most Valuable Promotions’ organization to stage the event with Tyson.
The fight has divided social media users, with some describing Paul as ‘the face of boxing’.
While another wrote: ‘If Jake will win this, we can never take boxing seriously again.’
A third user posted: ‘Looking forward to see it. FIGHT OF THE YEAR!’
And another wrote: ‘I hate myself that I’m going to watch this.’
But a fourth quipped: ‘The fight that nobody asked for.’
And another joked: ‘Let’s be honest Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson was NEVER on any Bingo card EVER.’