Legendary former world champion, Mike Tyson and YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul will face off on Friday, November 15, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The fight, originally slated for July 20, was postponed due to Tyson’s health scare earlier this year.
After a medical scare on a flight in May, Tyson was advised to rest, delaying his return to training.
Now, the 58-year-old “Baddest Man on the Planet” is set to face Paul in a professional bout, marking Tyson’s first official fight in nearly two decades.
Tyson, who was diagnosed with a recent flare-up of an ulcer, has been given the green light by medical professionals to resume full training and step back into the ring. The fight is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET.
Know Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson during an open workout session. (Photo By Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs), the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history, is aiming to prove that despite his years away from the sport, he still has the ferocity that made him one of the most feared fighters in history.
At 20 years old, Tyson became the undisputed heavyweight champion, defeating Trevor Berbick to win the WBC title in 1986, and adding the WBA and IBF belts soon after.
His reign ended in 1990 with a stunning loss to James “Buster” Douglas, but Tyson remained a dominant force in boxing until his controversial conviction and subsequent prison sentence in the early ’90s.
In recent years, Tyson has made a brief return to the ring, most notably in an exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr. in 2020, but this fight against Paul marks his return to professional boxing.
Know Jake Paul
Jake Paul. (Photo by Ayisha Collins/Getty Images for Netflix © 2024)
Jake Paul (10-1, 7 KOs), 27, has made a name for himself as a rising star in the boxing world after transitioning from YouTube stardom to the ring.
While his competition has largely consisted of former MMA fighters and celebrities, Paul has proven to be a capable fighter, with an undefeated streak until his loss to Tommy Fury in February 2023.
However, Paul has since rebounded with three straight victories, including a stunning first-round knockout of Ryan Bourland in March.
The bout will take place over eight two-minute rounds, with the fighters wearing 14-ounce gloves.
During a press workout ahead of the event, Tyson made it clear that his years in the ring have not dulled his edge.
“I’m bringing the devil himself [to the ring],” Tyson declared, promising to unleash the ferocity that once made him one of the most feared fighters in boxing history.”
“There are no feelings attached. My own mother should be careful if she has to get in the ring with me. When it’s over, it’s over. But while the process is going on, my intention is to hurt him. I hope he has the same intentions, or he is in trouble.”
