a.k.a…
The YouTuber vs The Legend
“The Problem Child” vs “The Baddest Man on the Planet”
The 27-year-old vs The 58-year-old
Good for boxing?
This fight is more spectacle than real boxing, but both fighters ARE actual professional boxers. Whether it’s a good fight will depend on whether the two compete in earnest.
Having said that, a large and diverse audience will tune in, and that’s good for the sport. Jake Paul has also improved immensely in his short boxing career, and he punches hard. So this could be a competitive fight.
When you tune in, note the following fight fight rules were negotiated:
Scheduled for eight rounds
2-minute rounds
Boxers will wear 14oz gloves
Who wins?
At 6’1″, Paul has a sizeable physical advantage over the 5’10” Tyson.
The age gap of 31 years is real, but so is the experience gap. The fight was originally set for July before Tyson had to postpone due to a medical issue. Tyson has a professional record of 50-6 (44KOs). However, Tyson last entered the ring in 2020 for an exhibition fight with Roy Jones, Jr, and Tyson’s last actual pro fight was way back in 2005.
Paul is only 11-1 (7KOs) as a professional, but you can’t underestimate his reach, confidence, and energy.
The current Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson odds list Paul as a -275 favorite, and Tyson as a +210 underdog.
Roy Jones Jr. believes Tyson will win, maybe by KO.
Shannon Briggs, who previously trained Jake Paul and his brother, predicts a KO for Tyson.
Lennox Lewis, who defeated Tyson by knockout in the 8th round of their heavyweight clash in 2002, thinks Tyson wins.
Regardless of who gets their hand raised at the end of the fight, they both win very large purses — Tyson’s predicted to make at least $20 million, and Paul will make around $40 million.
Fight of the Night? Don’t miss the co-main event!
The better fight is expected to be Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano will be for the undisputed super lightweight championship held by Taylor (WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring lightweight title bout). Their fight is a re-match. The first Taylor v Serrano was in New York on April 30, 2022 in Madison Square Garden, and was fast-paced, aggressive, and featured some big punching. Taylor won a split decision.
The bout will be contested over 10 two-minute rounds.
ESPN has Taylor ranked No. 2 and Serrano at No. 3 on its women’s boxing pound-for-pound list.
Taylor made her professional debut in November 2016 following a decorated amateur career highlighted by a gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games. Within a year, Taylor became a world champion, and claimed all four titles to become the undisputed lightweight champion. Katie Taylor is 37 years old, and is a hero in her home country of Ireland. Taylor is promoted by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Promotions.
Serrano moves up three weight classes for this fight.
Serrano’s had a longer career, and is a seven-weight world champion (the second-most of any boxer in history — the only fighter to win more is Manny Pacquiao). Amanda Serrano is 35 years old, and is from Puerto Rico, has won four in a row since losing to Taylor. She had to withdraw at the 11th hour from her last scheduled bout in December.
Serrano fights under Jake Paul’s promotional company, MVP. She has announced that this will be the last time she’ll fight two-minute rounds. She feels so strongly about women fighting the same standard round-length as men, that she relinquished her WBC featherweight title because WBC does not allow women to box three-minute rounds. Serrano is making an exception for Taylor because “I’m coming for her belts. [Taylor] wants 10×2, so that’s what we will do.”
The card is free on Netflix! If you want to watch in the company of other fans of the sweet science, come to the gym.
At Fighters Boxing Gym, we are an authentic boxing gym. We aren’t fancy, we’re real. We are a community of boxers and coaches who support each other. Come by Fighters Nashville to discuss your goals with an authentic boxing coach who’s trained to help.
