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30th April 2024
08:34am BST
The rules for Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul have been confirmed, with the fight to be sanctioned as a professional bout.
On July 20, Tyson will make his return to the ring when he takes on social media star Paul at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
By the time the fight comes round, Tyson will have just turned 58 whilst Paul will be 27, making this the largest age gap between two fighters in professional boxing history.
Ever since the fight was announced in March, boxing fans have wondered what the rules will be, and whether the bout would be sanctioned as an exhibition or not.
Now, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations have confirmed that Tyson vs Paul will be a professional bout that will go on both men’s records.
"Mike Tyson and Jake Paul signed on to fight each other with the desire to do so in a sanctioned professional fight that would have a definitive outcome," Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions business partner Nakisa Bidarian told ESPN. "Over the past six weeks, MVP has worked with its partners to satisfy the requirements of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR) to sanction Paul vs. Tyson, and we are grateful that we have gotten to this point."
The fight will be contested over eight, two-minute rounds with both Paul and Tyson wearing 14-ounce gloves in the ring and no headgear.
In a post on social media, Paul said it was his opponent's wishes for the event to be sanctioned as a professional fight.
He wrote: "Mike Tyson wanted it to be a pro fight. Netflix wanted it to be a pro fight. So I agreed to make it a pro fight. Winner takes all."
The bout will be Iron Mike's first professional fight since 2005 and the first time he has stepped in the ring since he took on Roy Jones Jr in an exhibition in 2020.
Paul, meanwhile, last fought in February as he stopped Ryan Bourland in the first round, with his only loss coming to Tommy Fury.
Ever since the clash was announced, many have questioned whether it is safe for a man in his late 50s to be taking on someone 30 years younger.
Tyson has admitted that he is "scared to death" of the YouTuber.
But Paul has insisted people are "underestimating" his ability to deal with the former heavyweight world champion's power.
Speaking on his podcast, B/S with Jake Paul, he said: “This is definitely the toughest, most savage, lethal opponent – regardless of age, because power is the last thing to go.
“But the reaction and reception of it has been insane. I almost can’t even believe it – so very surreal, very, very, very grateful for all of that.
“I want to see how hard he hits. Mike, I really want to see, bro. Let’s see all the legends, the myths, because you’re ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson – but I have an iron chin. People know that. I take shots.”
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