If we’re being completely honest, it’s hard to take any fight that features someone who, as recently as a few years ago, was known for making YouTube videos (Jake Paul). When said YouTuber-turned-boxer fights a 58-year-old, way-past-his-prime ex-champ (Mike Tyson), it is even more ridiculous. But the fight is happening, and it is being billed as “real” anyway.
In fairness to Paul and Tyson, some fans are intrigued by this match as if it’s an actual fight of significance. With that in mind, we have dug up some things to drum up even more interest for the Paul-Tyson encounter that’s about to give down in a couple of days.
1. Tyson was deep in his career when Paul was born.
To give you an idea of just how big the age difference is in this fight, consider this: Iron Mike was in the second act of his career when Paul was born on January 17, 1997. To be exact, Paul was born three months after Iron Mike’s first loss to Evander Holyfield and six months before the now infamous Bite Fight, where Tyson bit Holyfield’s ear as he was losing the rematch.
In all, Tyson had fought professionally 47 times and had two championship reigns even before his next opponent was born.
2. It’s been 24 years since Tyson last fought professionally.
Tyson isn’t just approaching 60, he has also not fought professionally for a long time. In fact, the last time Iron Mike fought as a pro was on June 11, 2005, when he retired on the stool in a sixth-round loss to Kevin McBride.
The last time Tyson stepped into the apron again for a “fight” was on November 28, 2020, in an exhibition showcase against fellow boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. The Jones-Tyson exhibition ended in a split draw.
3. History suggests Tyson will get hit—a lot.
Between Iron Mike’s last three losses to Kevin McBride (2005), Danny Williams (2004), and Lennox Lewis (2002) and his advancing age, it’s quite easy to deduce that Paul might very well land punches at will against his 58-year-old opponent.
In those three losses, McBride, Williams, and Lewis threw an average of 46.8 punches on Tyson—and connected 20.8 times for a 44.4% hit rate. Of those punches, 48.5 were power punches on a man who was turning 40. Now at 58, there’s a distinct chance Iron Mike will be an easy target for the much faster, much younger Paul, who is only 27.
4. The odds aren’t in Tyson’s favour—literally.
Given his age, declining skills and reflexes, and inactivity, it’s clear the odds are stacked against Tyson. And it appears bookmakers concur, with Tyson installed as the underdog by pretty much all sportsbooks.
When Is the Fight and How Can You Watch It?
Tyson vs. Paul is going down on Saturday, November 16, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. It will be streamed exclusively on Netflix starting at 9:00 a.m. Other fights on tap for the fight card are as follows:
- Super Lightweight: Katie Taylor (c) vs. Amanda Serrano for IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO women’s titles
- Welterweight: Mario Barrios (c) vs. Abel Ramos for WBC title
- Super Middleweight: Neeraj Goyat vs. Whindersson Nunes
- Super Middleweight: Shadasia Green vs. Melinda Watpool for vacant women’s WBO title
- Super Lightweight: Lucas Bahdi vs. Armando Casamonica
- Featherweight: Bruce Carrington vs. Dana Coolwell
