BOXING legend and former heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson has signed a deal to return to the ring and fight social media star-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
The bout is scheduled for July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Texas, United States of America, Netflix announced today.
The streaming platform will provide live coverage of the bout between the 27-year-old Paul and 57-year-old Tyson, who was one the hardest punchers in boxing but has not fought since he and Roy Jones Jr met in a 2020 exhibition that ended as a draw.
Paul is a popular YouTube influencer who turned professional in boxing four years ago.
He has won nine of 10 fights with six knockouts against mostly low-level opponents and his only defeat came last year to Tommy Fury, the brother of Worlc Boxing Council heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
‘Iron Mike’ Tyson won the world title at 20 and was the undisputed world heavyweight champion from 1987 to 1990 before retiring in 2005 with a record of 50 wins, 44 by knockout.
“My sights are set on becoming a world champion, and now I have a chance to prove myself against the greatest heavyweight champion of the world, the baddest man on the planet and the most dangerous boxer of all time. Time to put Iron Mike to sleep,” Paul wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, to announce the fight.
Paul’s second professional fight was on the undercard of the Tyson-Jones fight. His most recent fight was last Saturday, when he knocked out Ryan Bourland.
“I’m very much looking forward to stepping into the ring with Jake Paul at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas,” Tyson said in a statement.
“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.”
