The rules for Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul are now official after the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR) classified the bout as a sanctioned, professional fight. Their decision comes after the requirements were satisfied by Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Holden Boxing.
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Tyson, who turns 58 weeks before the bout, has not fought professionally since quitting on his stool against Kevin McBride in the summer of 2005, aged 38. He also lost his penultimate pro fight after being knocked out by British heavyweight Danny Williams despite being the heavy favourite.
A non-scored fight against Corey Sanders the following year and an exhibition against Roy Jones Jr. in November 2020 are the only times Tyson has returned to the ring since. Paul, 27, had his second pro fight on the undercard of the latter, knocking out former NBA player Nate Robinson.
He has fought eight more times over the four years since, losing just once to Tommy Fury by split decision. Paul has gone eight rounds in four fights - 10 against Nate Diaz - and the Tyson bout is over the same distance.
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It will be over eight two-minute rounds, and both boxers will wear 14-ounce gloves. MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian, Paul's business partner, confirmed the rules.
“Mike Tyson and Jake Paul signed on to fight each other with the desire to do so in a sanctioned professional fight that would have a definitive outcome,” he has said. “Over the past six weeks, MVP has worked with its partners to satisfy the requirements of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR) to sanction Paul vs Tyson, and we are grateful that we have gotten to this point.
The co-main event, a rescheduled rematch between undisputed super lightweight champion Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, will also have two-minute rounds. "MVP has championed fighter choice since its inception, including advocating for women’s boxing to be contested with two or three-minute rounds based on the particular fight matchup.
"Paul vs Tyson and Taylor vs Serrano 2 will both be contested with two-minute rounds, and each mega-fight will have its winner. Thank you to the TDLR and Holden Boxing for their efforts throughout this process to date and we look forward to working closely with them as we approach fight night.”
Both fighters have acknowledged the update. "Mike Tyson wanted it to be a pro fight," Paul shared in a post on X. "Netflix wanted it to be a pro-fight. So I agreed to make it a pro-fight. Winner takes all."
Tyson said: "Yes, it’s a real sanctioned fight with [Jake Paul]," to which his opponent replied: "You wanted it. You got it."
Before the announcement, Paul cryptically posted: "Don’t deny your own wants to make others happy. Do what you want to do." Then, minutes after the news, asked: "What y'all going to say now?"
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