Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson fight date finally confirmed & it’s on Netflix
NetflixJake Paul will face former heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson in Netflix’s first-ever live boxing event on July 20.
In a move that blindsided boxing fans, the “Problem Child” will face “Iron Mike” in the ring at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of NFL side the Dallas Cowboys.
Netflix announced the show on Thursday and released a 19-second trailer in which the pair came face to face for the first time.
It is the subscription service’s first dip into live boxing and the fight will be available to watch for all 260million Netflix subscribers worldwide.
Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson tipped to be “most-watched boxing event” in modern history
Paul’ Most Valuable Promotions company will promote the show and co-founder Nakisa Bidarian said in a statement: “Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson is a once-in-a-lifetime dream matchup and I anticipate it will be the most-watched boxing event in modern boxing history.”
Paul added: “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.
“Within just two and a half years of founding MVP, we’re about to produce the biggest fight in history, a fight in the biggest NFL stadium in the US, broadcast live, on the biggest streaming platform in the world — a testament to all we’ve accomplished in such a short amount of time.”
Meanwhile, Tyson added: “[Paul has] 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 on his boxing journey on the undercard of my fight with Roy Jones, and now I plan to finish him.”
It has not yet been confirmed whether the fight between Paul and Tyson will be sanctioned as an official professional fight or an exhibition bout but it certainly caught fans by surprise.
Paul had previously hinted he would be back in the ring at the end of April, following his first round stoppage win over Ryan Bourland on Saturday, but his plans have now seemingly changed.
Tyson was renowned as the “Baddest Man on the Planet” during his two reigns as world heavyweight champion between 1986 and 1996.
But the 57-year-old has not fought professionally since a loss to Kevin McBride in 2005, although he did return for an exhibition bout against Roy Jones Jr in 2020.
Paul, meanwhile, is 9-1 in the boxing ring having made the gradual transition into professional boxing from influencer boxing.
The YouTube star has amassed a huge following and has called out some of the best boxers in the world, namely Canelo Alvarez and Ryan Garcia, in recent weeks.