Boxing enthusiasts are labeling the upcoming contest between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson as a ‘televised sparring session’ after learning about the sanctioned adjustments to the rules.
The former undisputed heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson, who is now 58 years old, is on the verge of stepping back into the boxing ring, continuing his illustrious career.
This Friday, November 15, Tyson is scheduled to face 27-year-old Jake Paul at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. This marks Tyson’s first professional matchup since his unexpected loss to Kevin McBride in 2005.
‘Iron’ Mike and ‘The Problem Child’ were initially set to fight earlier this year, but the event was postponed when Tyson experienced a health emergency. Now, after months of anticipation and negotiations, the fight is set to take place tomorrow, Friday, November 15.
For fans who do not wish to spend £2 million on VIP tickets, the fight will be available to stream on Netflix, with the full fight card coverage starting at 8 p.m. ET.
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) has set three significant conditions for the fight between Paul and Tyson to proceed.
One significant alteration is that both competitors will wear 14oz gloves instead of the usual 10oz gloves typical in heavyweight bouts. Contrary to common belief, heavier gloves do not deliver harder blows; instead, they tend to soften the impact, a characteristic that makes them primarily used in sparring sessions.
Additionally, headguards are prohibited, and three neutral judges will assess the fight at ringside, should there be no knockout.
The fight will also feature eight two-minute rounds instead of the standard 12 three-minute rounds commonly seen in professional boxing.
Tyson has stated that the decision to shorten the rounds was his, explaining: “If we have shorter rounds, we’ll fight more. More action.”
Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions, noted: “It was [Tyson’s] choice, not that Jake didn’t want to do it [as a sanctioned fight]. We were bringing Mike Tyson back into the sport, and I believe that it was more meaningful as a pro fight.”
These rule changes have sparked debate among fans, with one commenting on social media: “Nope. Two minute rounds. Heavier, more padded gloves! This is strictly built for entertaining Jake’s fans. That being said, Tyson in 2.”
Another fan expressed, “If it’s a pro fight, then the rules also must be in pro boxing rule.”
“Practically a televised sparring session,” another person remarked, while a fourth added: “Sanctioned as a professional fight yet it’s only 8 rounds in total and everyone knows for a fact Jake Paul is not a professional boxer.”
Nonetheless, others have come to the fight’s defense, with one enthusiastic fan stating: “The two minute rule is HUGE. At Tyson’s age, a two minute sprint, one minute recovery is much easier than three on, one off.”
“2 min fights good, y’all have no attention span no excuse to miss the fight now, should be the most viewed fight,” another commented.
This match marks Jake Paul’s first professional fight since his exhibition with Roy Jones Jr in 2020. Meanwhile, the YouTuber has participated in 11 professional bouts, with his most recent victory being a TKO against Mike Perry last July.