Former heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson is returning to the ring to face YouTuber turned professional fighter Jake Paul.
The two are set to square off at the AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, on July 20th. The fight will be streamed live on Netflix, marking the platform’s first live broadcast of a combat sports event, according to The Guardian.
At 57 years old, Tyson is 30 years older than the 27-year-old Paul, sparking criticism that such matches diminish the sport of boxing. Nonetheless, it’s undeniably lucrative; Paul earned around $9 million from his loss last year against boxer and reality TV star Tommy Fury. It’s likely that the July bout will net both men much more.
Paul rose to fame as a YouTube prankster but has surprisingly developed a profitable career as a formidable boxer. Before his loss to Fury, he had a respectable start to his fighting career, boasting a 6-0 record. Since then, he has won his last three fights. Paul expressed his ambitions as he approaches his fight with Tyson, stating, “I’m putting the entire boxing world on notice. I’m set to prove myself against the greatest heavyweight of all time, the deadliest man on the planet, the most dangerous boxer ever… This is the fight of a lifetime.”
It’s unsurprising that Tyson had words to say about his opponent’s attributes. He remarked, “He’s grown dramatically as a boxer over the years, so it’ll be very interesting to see what a kid’s will and ambition can do with a little bit of experience and skill… It’s going to be a thrilling moment to watch.”
At the peak of his career, Tyson was arguably the most impactful heavyweight champion ever, known for his devastating knockout power. His last fight – an exhibition – ended in a draw against another former world champion, Roy Jones Jr., in 2020. Tyson’s last professional match was in 2005, where he lost to Irish boxer Kevin McBride.
Netflix has ventured into sports in recent years, notably with its successful Formula 1 documentary series Drive to Survive. It has also streamed two live sporting events in recent months: Netflix Slam, a tennis match between Spanish stars Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal, and the Netflix Cup featuring golfers and Formula 1 drivers competing against each other.
