Former undisputed world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson will face social media personality turned professional boxer Jake Paul in a highly anticipated boxing exhibition fight.
The fight is the latest in what has become a popular trend in recent years, pitting internet celebrities against each other or against well-known boxers who have retired or are past their prime.
Here’s what you should know about the upcoming fight:
When is the Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul fight?
The fight will take place on Friday, November 15 with the event scheduled to begin at 7pm local time (01:00 GMT on November 16).
Originally scheduled for July 20, the bout was pushed back due to Tyson’s ulcer flare-up.
When is the Tyson-Paul ring walk?
The main fighters will begin their ring walk at around 10 p.m. local time (04:00 GMT on November 16).
Where is the Tyson vs Paul fight taking place?
The fight will take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The venue, which is home to the NFL team Dallas Cowboys, seats 80,000 people.
What are Tyson and Paul fighting for?
There will be $40 million and bragging rights on the line, but no title belts.
However, the fight has been sanctioned by Texas boxing officials and will thus appear on the fighters’ professional records.
Where and how can I follow the Tyson and Paul fight live?
Al Jazeera will provide live text and photo coverage of the fight beginning at 00:00 GMT on November 16.
The fight will be broadcast exclusively by streaming service Netflix.
What will be the duration of the fight?
As with non-championship fights, this one will not last the full 12 rounds. Tyson and Paul will fight for eight two-minute rounds.
Who is Mike Tyson?
Tyson, an American boxer from New York City, is widely regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time, having become the world’s youngest heavyweight champion at the age of 20.
The 58-year-old was at the height of his boxing career in the late 1980s and 1990s, holding the title of undisputed heavyweight champion from 1987 to 1990.
The boxer, also known as “Iron Mike,” has a history of off-field issues, having been convicted several times and serving time in jail.
Tyson returned to boxing in 1996, quickly regaining his championship belts before his mega-fight with two-time champion Evander Holyfield, which Iron Mike lost.
A rematch in 1997 became highly contentious after Tyson bit Holyfield’s ear twice, losing not only the fight but also his boxing license.
The boxer’s last heavyweight title fight was in 2002 against British champion Lennox Lewis, who knocked Tyson out in the eighth round.
Tyson retired in 2005 after a string of non-title fights and a bankruptcy filing.
Who is Jake Paul?
Paul is a Cleveland, Ohio-based actor and professional boxer who is also one of the highest-paid YouTube content creators, with 20.8 million subscribers.
The 27-year-old made his boxing debut in a white-collar boxing match (an exhibition match between celebrities) in 2018 before turning professional two years later.
In a highly anticipated fight in 2021, Paul defeated Bellator MMA and ONE welterweight champion Ben Askren via first-round technical knockout.
Paul’s next major heavyweight fight was against Tommy Fury, the half-brother of former heavyweight boxing world champion Tyson Fury, which he lost by decision.
It was followed by a series of successful bouts for Paul before the fight against Tyson was confirmed in early 2024.
What’s Tyson’s fight record?
Fights: 58
Wins: 50
By knockout: 44
By decision: 5
By disqualification: 1
Losses: 6
What’s Paul’s fight record?
Fights: 11
Wins: 10
By knockout: 7
By decision: 3
Losses: 1
What has Tyson said about the fight?
When the fight was announced, Tyson expressed excitement about facing an opponent 31 years his junior, claiming that he had been impressed by Paul’s performances in his early boxing career.
“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,” Tyson tweeted.
Paul fought on the undercard of Tyson’s most recent fight, an eight-round exhibition against former middleweight champion Roy Jones Jr. in Los Angeles in 2020.
“I started him on his boxing journey on the undercard of my fight with Roy Jones and now I plan to finish him,” Tyson said with a laugh.
“As soon as I catch this guy, it’ll be over; he’ll run. “He’s going to run like a thief.”
When the fight was rescheduled, Tyson warned Paul that he would “still be knocked out and out of boxing for good”.
What has Paul said about the fight?
Paul responded to Tyson’s remark about the rescheduling by saying, “I fully support postponing the event so Mike Tyson has no excuses come fight night.”
Paul, who was booed and heckled by the audience during a news conference in August, claimed he would put Tyson to sleep.
“I am here to make 40 million dollars and knock out a legend,” Paul said.
“I love Mike and I respect him but we are not friends any more until November 15,” he said.
How much do tickets for the Tyson-Paul fight cost?
The cheapest tickets cost $55, but fans who want to be closer to the action than ever before can spend $2 million on ringside apron seats.
The fight’s premium hospitality package, a 10-ticket “MVP Owner’s Experience”, will seat two people in a private suite less than two metres (six feet) from the action.
Other perks include a pre-fight locker room visit with Tyson and Paul, the opportunity to be onstage during the weigh-in, autographed gloves from both boxers, and a personal concierge and security detail throughout the week.
In addition to the ringside apron suite, the package includes four seats in the first and second rows.
