Mike Tyson is returning to the ring. Yes, you heard that right. Nearly nineteen year after his last pro fight, Tyson will face Jake Paul in a boxing match on Nov. 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys.
The bout was first scheduled for July 20 but was postponed after Tyson, who had a scare on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles on May 26, and needed to receive medical attention, was advised to rest and to not return to training for a few weeks.
The YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul (9-1, 6 KOs) has said recently he wants to focus on fighting real boxers to eventually compete for a world title. Instead, he’ll fight long-retired Tyson (56-6, 44 KOs), a former heavyweight champion and one of the best in boxing history. His last competitive fight was a TKO loss to Kevin McBride in June 2005. Tyson will be 58 when the fight takes place.
Tyson participated in an eight-round exhibition bout with Roy Jones Jr. in July 2020, and while the fight exceeded expectations, no one was clamoring for more. During the height of his career, Tyson was one of the most feared fighters in boxing and earned the moniker as the “Baddest Man on the Planet.” He was the undisputed heavyweight champion and still owns the distinction of being the youngest boxer ever to win a heavyweight title. After serving less than three years in jail for a rape conviction between 1992 and 1995, Tyson returned to the ring just five months later and, after two wins, regained the WBC title by defeating Frank Bruno in 1996.
After starting his boxing career facing fellow YouTubers and former MMA fighters, Paul, 27, lost a split decision to Tommy Fury in February 2023. Last August, after beating another MMA fighter in Nate Diaz, Paul stated he was going to change course with hopes of developing a true boxing career. He scored first-round KO wins over Andre August and Ryan Bourland since that point, fighting at the cruiserweight limit of 200 pounds.
On April 29, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation confirmed it will sanction the Tyson-Paul bout as a professional fight with eight two-minute rounds and 14-ounce gloves, and the outcome will affect both of their professional records.
