Mike Tyson and Jake Paul To Step Into The Ring LIVE On Netflix
Image from: Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Jake Paul and former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson have announced that they will be facing off in the ring for a heavyweight contest live on Netflix later this year. The match, which will take place at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, will be Netflix’s first live combat sport event, and their third live sporting event so far. The match is being produced in collaboration with Paul’s promotion company, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP).
Paul Rises Through The Ranks
Youtuber and professional boxer Jake Paul rose to fame in the world of combat sports after knocking out former NBA player Nate Robinson in 2020 on the undercard of Mike Tyson's exhibition boxing match with Roy Jones Jr. After that win, Paul went on to defeat former UFC stars including Tyron Woodley before setting his sights on more experienced boxers. With a current record of nine wins, with six of those wins by knockout, and one loss, the match against Tyson will be his toughest match yet.
When discussing the upcoming fight in a statement, Paul, 27, said: “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.” He went on to say, “My sights are set on becoming a world champion, and now I have a chance to prove myself against the greatest heavyweight champion ever, the baddest man on the planet and the most dangerous boxer of all time. This will be the fight of a lifetime.”
"I plan to finish him" - Tyson To Pull On The Gloves For First Time Since 2020
The match is not only a big moment for fans of Jake Paul, but also for fans of Tyson. Tyson, 57, is making his return to the ring for the first time since his exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr. in 2020. Known for being the youngest heavyweight champion in history when he won the title at only 20, Tyson retired from professional boxing in 2005 with a record of 50 wins and 6 losses, with an incredible 33 of those wins being by knockout. The “Baddest Man on the Planet” is recognised as one of the greatest fighters of all time, and is ranked as ESPN’s hardest hitter in heavyweight history.
"I'm very much looking forward to stepping into the ring with Jake Paul," 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. 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."
Netflix Ventures Into Sports
The bout marks a turning point for Netflix as they make their first step into live combat sports. Gabe Spitzer, Netflix's Vice President for nonfiction sports, expressed excitement, stating, "Mike Tyson is one of the biggest icons in boxing history, and Jake Paul is one of the biggest disruptors in boxing history. Saturday, July 20 will be pure drama in the ring in Texas. We are thrilled to partner with Most Valuable Promotions for this historic event and we can't wait for these two to face off for fans all across the world on Netflix."
Whether you're a longtime fan or tuning in for the first time, mark your calendars for July 20 as Netflix and MVP present a fight that could go down as one of the most-watched boxing events in modern history.
