The hype is real, folks! The boxing world is buzzing as former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson gears up to throw punches with none other than social media sensation turned boxer Jake Paul.
Set in the legendary AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, this showdown promises fireworks, slated for today, November 15.
Dubbed ‘Iron’ Mike vs ‘The Problem Child,’ the spectacle comes after a bit of a hiccup earlier this year when Tyson faced a health scare, delaying what is shaping to be a blockbuster bout.
If the thought of splurging millions for a VIP seat makes you wince, you’re in luck because Netflix is streaming the action live from 8PM ET.
Verizon users, there's a cherry on top for you: snag a year of Netflix Premium for free when you bundle through Verizon's +play.
But here’s where it gets juicy—the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) has tweaked the rules a bit, stirring up quite the chatter among the boxing community.
For starters, Tyson and Paul will be donning 14oz gloves, heftier than the typical 10oz, aiming to soften the blows—quite literally—since these padded gloves are usually reserved for sparring.
No headguards this time, folks, and if the fighters don't knock each other out, three unbiased judges will be ringside to score the bout. But wait—there's more!
Instead of the long-haul 12 three-minute rounds, we're looking at eight brisk two-minute rounds.
Mike Tyson himself pitched this idea, thinking it'll crank up the action. “If we have shorter rounds, we’ll fight more. More action,” he claimed.
Nakisa Bidarian of Most Valuable Promotions threw in his two cents, confirming it was Tyson’s call to make this a pro fight, adding a layer of gravitas to his return to the ring.
Fans, however, are divided. Some have scoffed at the changes, with tweets calling the fight a "televised sparring session" and questioning the professional status of the bout due to its altered format.
But there are those rallying behind the new setup, thrilled about the high-octane potential of shorter rounds. “The two-minute rule is HUGE. At Tyson's age, a two-minute sprint, one minute recovery is much easier than three on, one off," one supporter tweeted.
As for the fighters, this isn't just another day at the office. For Tyson, it's a nostalgic return, his first pro fight since his 2005 defeat to Kevin McBride and a follow-up to his 2020 exhibition bout against Roy Jones Jr. Across the ring, Jake Paul isn't just a YouTube personality anymore; with 11 professional fights and a TKO victory over Mike Perry last July, he’s proving his mettle.
With all eyes on Texas, whether you're a boxing purist or a thrill-seeker, this match is poised to be one for the books. Get ready, grab your popcorn (or boxing gloves), and tune in—it's going to be a wild ride in the ring.
