Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) have announced a heavyweight boxing bout, headlined by former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and influencer Jake Paul.
The fight will be held at the AT&T Stadium in Texas, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, on 20 July 2024 and will be streamed live exclusively on Netflix in partnership with MVP. This fight marks the arrival of combat sports on the platform.
Paul, who also goes by ‘The Problem Child, Jake “El Gallo” Paul’ ring nicknames when fighting, co-created MVP in 2021 with Nakisa Bidarian.
Since establishing, the promotions company has made waves in the boxing ecosystem, playing its part in women’s boxing history as its fighter Amanda Serrano went head to head with Katie Taylor, marking the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden.
“Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson is a once-in-a-lifetime dream matchup and we hope it will be the most-watched boxing event in modern boxing history,” Bidarian said.
Paul has also attracted a lot of attention from his work in the ring. Beginning his boxing journey on a YouTube event, the American has gone onto fight a star studded list, which has not only helped him raise his skill level but has consistently pulled in viewership.
The influencer is coming off the back of two knockout wins against professional boxers and Golden Glove winners Ryan Bourland on 2 March and Andre August in December 2023. However, none of his opponents have been as famous and as skilled as the ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’ Mike Tyson.
“It’s crazy to think that in my second pro fight, I went viral for knocking out Nate Robinson on Mike Tyson’s undercard. Now, less than four years later, I’m stepping up to face Tyson myself to see if I have what it takes to beat one of boxing’s most notorious fighters and biggest icons,” Paul remarked.
“Within just two and a half years of founding MVP, we’re about to produce the biggest fight in history, a fight in the biggest NFL stadium in the US, broadcast live, on the biggest streaming platform in the world – a testament to all we’ve accomplished in such a short amount of time.
“Whether you’re tuning in on Netflix or showing out in person, whether you’re team Paul or team Tyson, or whether you’re a lifelong boxing fan or watching your first fight, you’re not going to want to miss this event.”
The former heavyweight champion boasts an impressive record of 50-6, with 44 KOs. Despite the fact Tyson is 57-years-old and will be 58-years-old at the time of the fight, this wouldn’t be his first bout after retirement.
Tyson fought Roy Jones Jr in 2020, which was scored as a split draw by the judges. These exhibition style fights have blurred the lines between real and fantasy for many boxing fans, with nobody really knowing if the two fighters are trying to knock the other out, or just turn up and get paid.
However, Tyson’s comments on the fight look as if he is taking it seriously.
“I’m very much looking forward to stepping into the ring with Jake Paul at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas,” he remarked.
“He’s grown significantly as a boxer over the years, so it will be a lot of fun to see what the will and ambition of a ‘kid’ can do with the experience and aptitude of a GOAT. It’s a full circle moment that will be beyond thrilling to watch; as I started him off on his boxing journey on the undercard of my fight with Roy Jones and now I plan to finish him.”
With this fight marking the epitome of the influencer boxing world and the traditional boxing world coming together, there is a third party at the table, Netflix.
The streaming platform recently announced that it will be the new home of WWE Raw, following a $5bn deal which will last for 10-years. Now with the announcement of a boxing event, fans are wondering if Netflix is making a move to compete in the world of combat sports.
Gabe Spitzer, Vice President, Nonfiction Sports, Netflix, stated: “Mike Tyson is one of the biggest icons in boxing history and Jake Paul is one of the biggest disruptors in boxing history.
“Saturday, July 20 will be pure drama in the ring in Texas. We are thrilled to partner with Most Valuable Promotions for this historic event and we can’t wait for these two to face off for fans all across the world on Netflix.”
Additional information, including the co-main event and undercards, has yet to be announced, but with a headline such as this, there will be a lot of fighters and possibly celebrities looking to cash in.
Paul added: “I could not be more excited to make this amazing fight available to all Netflix subscribers alongside the hardest hitter of all time, Mike Tyson, on Saturday, 20 July.
“My sights are set on becoming a world champion, and now I have a chance to prove myself against the greatest heavyweight champion ever, the baddest man on the planet and the most dangerous boxer of all time.”
