The boxing world is excited as 57-year-old legend Mike “Iron Mike” Tyson gears up for a high-stakes showdown against the 27-year-old social media sensation-turned-boxer Jake Paul. The clash is set to take place on July 20 at the iconic AT&T Stadium in Texas, and the entire spectacle will be broadcast live on Netflix. You read that right: Netflix is stepping into the ring as the official platform for this epic battle.
Tyson, known for his ferocious power and speed, has not fought professionally since 2005. However, he returned to the ring for an exhibition against Roy Jones Jr in November 2020. Now, he’s back in training, preparing for a fight with the boxing world buzzing with anticipation.
He has been training for the fight for several months and posting videos of his workouts on social media. Tyson looks quick, powerful, and in great shape in the videos. Tyson’s trainer, Rafael Cordeiro, has said that Tyson is “in the best shape of his life.”
Mike Tyson training for Jake Paul fight PIC.TWITTER.COM/CJTFV0KVFT
— Historic Vids (@historyinmemes) MARCH 14, 2024
According to Bodhizone, Tyson’s training routine is nothing short of intense. He trains for 50–60 hours per week, six days a week, starting four or five weeks before a fight. His regimen includes sparring more than 200 rounds without headgear, and he typically loses about 15–20 pounds during training camp. On the first training day, Tyson uploaded footage of himself in the gym, looking almost as explosive as he did in his prime. He stated, “It’s day one; the fun has just begun.”
Jake Paul, the controversial YouTube sensation who transitioned into professional boxing, has made waves in the fight game. With nine wins (including six knockouts) out of his ten professional bouts, Paul has proven he’s more than just a social media influencer. His only loss came at the hands of Tommy Fury, the half-brother of WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. But Paul is undeterred and ready to take on the biggest challenge of his career.
In a bold statement on social media, Paul declared,
“My sights are set on becoming a world champion, and now I have a chance to prove myself against the greatest heavyweight champion of the world, the worst man on the planet, and the most dangerous boxer of all time. Time to put Iron Mike to sleep.”
The audacity of youth meets the seasoned wisdom of a legend—a clash of generations that promises fireworks.
The promotional video released by Netflix shows Paul arriving via helicopter on a rooftop, where he comes face-to-face with Tyson. The tension is palpable—the young upstart sizing up the aging warrior. But Tyson isn’t one to be underestimated. He responded,
“He’s the greatest heavyweight of all time—the most vicious KO artist ever. But I’m younger, I’m faster, and I’m going to be working my ass off to get stronger.”
The AT&T Stadium, home to the Dallas Cowboys, will host this historic event. With a seating capacity of around 80,000, the arena will witness a full-circle moment. Tyson, who once shared the undercard with Paul during the Tyson-Jones fight, aims to finish what he started. “It’s beyond thrilling to watch,” Tyson said. “I plan to finish him.”
There are concerns about whether Tyson should be stepping into the ring against someone so much younger. Promoter Eddie Hearn described the fight as a “sad day” for boxing. Jake Paul’s brother, Logan Paul, also claimed he was offered the chance to fight Tyson but turned it down, citing Tyson’s age. Tyson, however, is looking forward to the challenge and believes it will be fun to see what Jake Paul can do with his experience and aptitude.
This fight is more than just a boxing match; it’s a narrative of age versus youth, experience versus audacity, and tradition versus modernity. Regardless of the outcome, this event is set to redefine the future of boxing and entertainment. As Tyson himself put it, “the fun has just begun.”
