A surprise announcement came from Most Valuable Promotions today as YouTuber turn pro boxer Jake Paul (9-1, 6 KOs) will take on former two-time heavyweight champion “Iron” Mike Tyson on Saturday July 20th, at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas live on Netflix.
Mike Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) also known as The Baddest Man on the Planet, is a Hall of Fame boxer who is also an iconic figure.
Jake Paul is a polarizing social media star who has been competing as a boxing professional since January 2020. Paul has brought casual fans to the sport, and he has also provided many opportunities for other pro boxers.
A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Jake Paul is a Disney Channel star turn YouTuber, turn professional boxer. His introduction to boxing came in the form of an exhibition bout. Back in August 2018, Paul scored a 5th-round TKO victory over a YouTuber named Deji.
Two years later, Jake Paul made his pro debut as he posted a first-round knockout over YouTuber AnEsonGib. Paul would land a spot on the Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr undercard, and Paul went viral when he scored a devastating 2nd round knockout victory over former NBA slam dunk champion Nate Robinson.
Paul won his first six professional bouts, but back in February
In 2023, he suffered his first defeat as he lost by way of a split decision to his arch-rival Tommy Fury. Jake Paul bounced back by posting three consecutive victories, and now the 27-year-old is on the verge of stepping inside the squared circle to face a boxing legend.
“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,” said Jake Paul.
Back on March 6, 1985, Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York native Mike Tyson made his pro boxing debut by scoring a first-round TKO victory over Hector Mercedes. In one calendar year, Mike Tyson had 19 fights that resulted in 19 knockout victories.
In only his second year as a pro, 20-year-old Mike Tyson became the youngest man to win a heavyweight title when he knocked out Trevor Berbick and won the WBC belt. Tyson would go on to become undisputed as he defeated WBA champion James “Bonecrusher” Smith in March 1987, and five months later, he beat the IBF champion, Tony Tucker.
After 20 years in the game, Mike Tyson retired from the sport of boxing in 2005. He made his return to the ring in 2020 as he fought Roy Jones Jr in a very entertaining exhibition bout. Now the boxing legend plans on making another return to the ring in a high profile bout against “The Problem Child” Jake Paul.
“I’m very much looking forward to stepping into the ring with Jake Paul at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas,” said Mike Tyson. “He’s 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.”
The 57-year-old Mike Tyson would go on to say, “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.”
