.png)
Jake Paul is gearing up for his upcoming bout with Mike Tyson with a level of seriousness that has caught the attention of many. The fight, set to take place on July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, has been officially sanctioned as a professional boxing match, raising the stakes for both fighters.
When the pairing was first announced in March, it was unclear what type of boxing match it would be. The significant age gap between the 27-year-old Paul and 57-year-old Tyson raised concerns across the combat sports world.
Some viewed the fight as nothing more than a cash grab, especially since it will be the first live boxing event aired on Netflix. However, Paul is not taking his legendary opponent lightly and is treating Tyson as a serious threat.
Speaking at the Formula One Grand Prix in Miami, Paul stated,
"It’s an honor to be in the ring with him, but I have to end him... It’s war. All is fair in love and war. I love the guy, but as soon as it turned into a pro fight, one of us has to die."
Despite the aggressive stance, Paul expressed his respect for Tyson and believes the feeling is mutual.
For Tyson, this will be his first professional boxing match since his loss to Kevin McBride in June 2005.
Although he had an exhibition match with Corey Sanders a year later and another exhibition against Roy Jones Jr. in November 2020, Tyson's upcoming fight with Paul marks his return to the professional ring. The bout with Jones Jr. went the full eight rounds and was declared a split draw, as knockouts were not allowed.
A victory for Paul would extend his winning streak to three, following a unanimous decision over MMA veteran Nate Diaz and back-to-back first-round knockouts of Andre August and Ryan Bourland. The fight between Paul and Tyson is expected to be a spectacle, drawing significant attention from fans and critics alike.