The fact that a match does not follow the standards considered “professional” like Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul has caused the United States Boxing Commission to speak up.
Celebrity boxing matches (celebrity fights) have emerged in recent years. The nature of these confrontations attracts the attention of not only the experts, but also a large audience in the entertainment – arts sector.
Jake Paul – American boxer/content creator is certainly the most mentioned name in such matches. Most of Jake Paul’s previous matches used the professional boxing rules. However, the changes in his match with boxing legend – Mike Tyson have caused the United States Boxing and Combat Sports Commission (ABC) to speak up.
In a letter to the US state Sports/Athletic Commission, ABD Chairman Michael Mazzulli suggested that they should carefully consider allowing/calling a match “professional”.
“Bouts involving celebrities and events that deviate from the rules of boxing should not be called “professional boxing”. ABC will strongly respond and rule such a match invalid.”
“Whether it is an exhibition or unconventional match, where no result is declared, or a match that we determine does not use standard boxing rules, it is a fraud to call it a professional boxing event.”
The Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul match was the subject of ABC’s warning.
In the November 2024 event, Mike Tyson and Jake Paul will fight for only 2 minutes per round, using 14oz gloves. Meanwhile, the rules of professional boxing require a men’s match to last 3 minutes per round, using 10oz gloves for weight classes over 149lbs (67kg).
Not to mention, Mike Tyson was 58 years old when he entered the ring against an opponent 30 years younger than him. Before the match took place, many viewers and experts were concerned about the safety of the American legend. This made ABC believe that it was necessary to regulate the licensing and recognition of such matches.
“There are hidden evils in it, such as the risk of disparity, betting manipulation and danger to participants. “Professional boxer” is a respected title with a small number of athletes participating in this sport and following the rules.”
“When there are changes such as shorter rounds, non-standard glove sizes, … then that match is no longer professional boxing.”
“We have no problem with non-traditional boxing, but if they do not follow the rules, then they are not professional. This is an effort to protect the fighters and ensure that there is no cheating when it comes to celebrities and non-traditional boxing. If the Commissions, Regulators or Sponsors are allowed to change the rules to suit the strengths and weaknesses of each opponent, the integrity of boxing will be destroyed.”
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson, although not highly professional, achieved great success in terms of coverage. The match attracted more than 72 thousand people to watch live, along with more than 60 million online views on the Netflix platform. Media around the world also continuously reported on this special confrontation.
It is undeniable that matches with the participation of celebrities will create great attraction. Because it is not only limited to the general Boxing community, the event’s audience will expand to many audiences from the “celeb” side. The audience also watches with curiosity, to see how these influential figures on social networks will compete against well-trained boxers with many years of experience.
However, the legitimacy and compliance with the rules of Boxing are also things that need to be respected. This is a sport that has existed for hundreds of years if only considered in terms of professional competition. If it is only because of factors such as revenue, entertainment or viewership, it is very likely that the image of Boxing in the eyes of the audience will continue to decline dramatically.
