It's a boxing match that's been building anticipation for over eight months. An announcement in March revealed that boxing legend Mike Tyson would return to the ring after nearly two decades to take on YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. The bout was originally scheduled for July 20 before being postponed in late May after Tyson experienced an ulcer flare-up.
But the stage is now set for "The Baddest Man on the Planet" to fight "The Problem Child" in a heavyweight match on Friday at the 80,000-seat AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The generational showdown pits a 58-year-old who was the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the three-belt era against a 27-year-old who's had around a dozen pro fights since launching his boxing career in 2020.
Will Tyson, who's the betting underdog, be able to overcome the stark age difference in his first pro fight since 2005? Or will Paul earn a victory over one of the sport's biggest all-time names?
Analyzing the Numbers
With that disparity in experience -- and age -- let's look at the fight through the numbers.
31: Age difference, in years, between Tyson (58) and Paul (27).
47: Tyson's fights before Paul was born in 1997.
24: Years since Tyson last fought professionally (a sixth-round loss to Kevin McBride in 2005).
47.2: Percentage of punches landed by Tyson during his first reign as heavyweight champion (10 fights, from November 1986 to July 1989). It was nearly 15% higher than the heavyweight division average (32.4%).
55.1: Percentage of power punches landed by Tyson during his first reign as heavyweight champion, 15.4% higher than the heavyweight division average (39.7%).
20: Tyson's age when he became the youngest heavyweight champion in history by defeating Trevor Berbick for the WBC title in November 1986 in Las Vegas.
42-1: Tyson's betting odds to defeat James "Buster" Douglas in February 1990. Douglas stopped Tyson in Round 10, the biggest upset in boxing history.
-235: Betting odds by ESPN BET for Paul to win the fight. Tyson is the underdog at +185 (as of Nov. 13).
22: First-round stoppage victories by Tyson in his career, the third-most among heavyweight champions (Shannon Briggs with 30 and Jack Dempsey with 25).
12: Punches per round landed by Tyson in his loses to Kevin McBride, Danny Williams and Lennox Lewis, of 31.8 thrown (37.7%).
20.8: Punches per round landed on Tyson by McBride, Williams and Lewis out of 46.8 (44.4%).
48.5: Percentage of power punches landed on Tyson in his loses to McBride, Williams and Lewis.
7: Power punches per round landed by Paul out of 16.2, below the division average of 9.7 per round. His opponents landed 7.1 per round against him.
3: Paul's fights against professional boxers (2-1) entering the fight with Tyson.
1: Loss by Paul in his professional boxing career, a split decision to Tommy Fury in February 2023.
11.3: Punches landed by Paul out of 35.1 thrown (32.2%), below the cruiserweight division average of 14.
3: Consecutive KO wins by Paul since December 2023, tied for longest streak in his career.
70: Paul's career KO percentage, with four wins in the first round.
The Fight Breakdown
The fight will take place on Friday, November 15th at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The main event will be broadcast exclusively on Netflix.
The professionally sanctioned bout will feature eight rounds lasting two minutes each, shorter than the typical three-minute rounds. The fighters will also use 14-ounce gloves, which are heavier than standard gloves.
Boxing Legends Weigh In on the Fight
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson will be the biggest combat sports event of the year. Everyone is weighing in on Netflix's boxing debut on Friday, from boxing legends to reigning undisputed champions.
Nostalgia is a powerful thing and it has a lot of people riding with former undisputed heavyweight champion "Iron" Mike from a betting perspective. The more skeptical fortune tellers side with Paul's 31-year youth edge and relative boxing success. Whatever side you fall on, there's a morbid curiosity about the whole thing.
Boxing legends Roy Jones Jr. and Lennox Lewis, active superstars like Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, and other parties relevant to Tyson and Paul have given their takes on the fight. Take a look at who in the boxing world is siding with Tyson or Paul.
Tyson Fury:
"Listen, if Mike Tyson hits anybody, I don't care if he's 90, he's gonna knock them out cold, isn't he? Obviously, I have to back Mike Tyson. I'm named after the legend, and I'll back him. As he always backs me, I'm backing Mike for the knockout. Come on, Mike!" (The Stomping Ground)
Manny Pacquiao:
"I don't think so," Pacquiao said when asked if Paul can beat Tyson (Fight Hub TV)
Anthony Joshua:
"[Mike Tyson] is older now… I pray that he comes out healthy. I think Jake Paul [wins] because of youth. That's the only thing." (The Jonathan Ross Show)
Roy Jones Jr:
"I believe in Mike, likely via decision. But if he wants to finish it, he can. Yet, if he's just looking to enjoy the fight, he might take it slow and have some fun... I'm not worried about Mike and his age. Mike is still hard to hit, and he hits like a truck." (MMA NYTT)
Logan Paul:
"Let's go, Jake! Mike Tyson, you don't even know. You're messing with the Pauls, bruh. Let's go, Jake. First-round knockout. Yeet!" (Logan's Instagram)
Lennox Lewis:
"Mike Tyson's gonna win. He's not that old. Don't take him too softly. We're one year apart. You can fight somebody like that and do well because the person you're fighting is not a true fighter, and there's a hundred things that you've forgotten that he's learning." (The Pulse)
Nate Diaz:
"I'm with Mike all the way. Mike is the man, you already know. Jake is young and explosive with nothing to lose in every fight. That's what I think he has going for him. Everything is going to switch. He's the guy that's supposed to win. I think that will be a little different." (All the Smoke)
Teddy Atlas:
"The first couple of minutes could be a little risky for Paul against a guy who was the youngest heavyweight champ and a guy with one of the greatest combinations of speed and power in the history of the heavyweight division. For one or two rounds could it be a little hairy? Yeah. If he don't catch him... then the gas tank starts to putter... then the young man will have the advantage. Even a young man who's far less accomplished in the game... It's not like he doesn't know how to put his knuckles on your face. The question is how much does he have left in his body? 58 (years old) is not the same 58 when I was 21. It's a different 58, especially if they are not testing him." (Seconds Out)
Larry Holmes:
"I watched a clip of Mike Tyson this morning, and all I can say is that Jake Paul had better be ready if he's going to fight Mike. Mike will be able to last the two-minute rounds. Mike comes to fight when he puts his mind to it; he goes to work on you. And that's what I've seen today... If Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul was a Las Vegas table game I'd be betting all my money on Iron Mike... Mike Tyson doesn't care about anything. He'll fight you right now, even though he's not in any shape. And he's going to hit you, and when he does that, it's all over. Mike is ready for it. He won't be taking any punches in training. If I'm betting my money, it's on Mike." (OLGB)
David Benavidez:
"It's gonna be a good fight. The only thing that worries me is Mike Tyson's age, but Mike Tyson's always gonna be a fighter at heart, you know what I mean? So it's really just how he prepares... Jake Paul, I think he knows he's got to get ready. We'll see how it turns out, but hopefully it's not nothing too crazy. That's the only thing that worries me, bro, but if Mike goes out there and gives Jake a good fight, we're not gonna be surprised. Mike is a world champion, a fighter at heart. I think it's gonna be a good fight." (Cigar Talk)
Oscar De La Hoya:
"If it's before three, four rounds, I have to go with Tyson by knockout, that one punch knockout. If it goes past four rounds, I have to worry about Tyson's conditioning, and where Jake Paul's youth can take over. I've seen Jake Paul's videos, he looks big, he looks huge." (Fight Hub TV)
Amir Khan:
"I just feel that he can really hurt Jake Paul. I just can't believe what Jake Paul is thinking." (Gambling Zone)
Le'Veon Bell:
"I think he beats Mike Tyson. Mike Tyson is obviously going to look great for his age. But at the end of the day, Jake Paul has been doing this, he's locked in and he got it right now." (The Schmo)
While opinions are split on the outcome of the fight, one thing is clear: the world is eagerly awaiting this unexpected showdown. The clash of generations and styles is a unique opportunity to witness two forces in the boxing world collide. Whether Tyson can summon his former glory or Paul can pull off a shocking upset, this fight promises to be a memorable event.
Who Will You Be Betting On?
With the fight just days away, the anticipation is mounting. It's sure to be a fight that will have boxing fans glued to their screens, eager to see who will come out on top.
The undercard also features a tremendous rematch for the undisputed women's lightweight crown when champion Katie Taylor takes on Amanda Serrano. The two first met inside Madison Square Garden -- the first women's boxing match in history to headline the venue -- where Taylor took home a contentious split decision in April 2022. Taylor has since claimed the undisputed crown at junior welterweight, which are the titles she will take in the matchup on Saturday.
FanDuel has odds for every aspect of Tyson vs. Paul as well as the undercard on Friday. Check out the latest FanDuel promo to get in on the action.
