Whether you love him or hate him, you certainly can’t ignore him – Jake Paul knows how to make waves, and money, in the Youtuber era. This Friday seems him fight the legendary Mike Tyson in the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The main card kicks off at midnight in the UK (Saturday morning), with the ring walks for the main event expected around 4 a.m. UK time, or 10 p.m. ET in the U.S. Fans can watch the bout on Netflix, marking the streaming service’s debut in live boxing coverage.
Undercard
The undercard lineup has some top-level talent and title bouts, featuring:
- Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 2: a super-lightweight rematch for Taylor’s IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO titles.
- Mario Barrios vs. Abel Ramos: WBC welterweight title bout.
- Shadasia Green vs. Melinda Watpool: for the vacant women’s WBO super-middleweight title.
- Other bouts include: Bruce Carrington vs. Dana Coolwell in featherweight, Neeraj Goyat vs. Whindersson Nunes in middleweight, and Lucas Bahdi vs. Corey Marksman at lightweight
Odds and Prediction
Jake Paul, the YouTuber-turned-boxer, enters as the betting favourite with odds of 2/5 on DragonBet, reflecting his youth and recent boxing experience. Paul, now 27, has built a 10-1 record with notable wins over former UFC fighters, and he continues to be a strategic and cautious matchmaker for his own career. However, he’s never fought a fighter with such a long and impressive KO list as Tyson, who, regardless of age, does look in fantastic shape and clearly got himself in top condition for this match up.
The legendary Mike Tyson, at 58, hasn’t fought in a sanctioned match since 2005. Although he returned for an exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr. in 2020, many see this fight as a challenging comeback given Tyson’s age and time away from professional competition. Tyson’s odds are 5/2 on DragonBet, as bookmakers weigh his experience against Paul’s youth and ongoing training.
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson | Official Trailer | Netflix (youtube.com)
The fight rules will include eight two-minute rounds and 14-ounce gloves, but there will be no headgear. Knockouts are allowed, making this an officially sanctioned match, which will count toward each fighter’s professional record. Despite Paul’s KO record and Tyson’s renowned knockout power, many think that the match will go the distance, likely ending in a points decision in Paul’s favour. Some suggest the match could even end in a draw if both fighters avoid aggressive knockouts, with a sense of mutual respect likely to influence their approach.
However, one thing in boxing you can be sure of is that you just never know. Anything is possible when that bell rings. Especially with one of the most ferocious and feared boxers of all time, albeit in his later years. At 5/2 Tyson is great value and with his power could easily end the fight early.
Because of this sense of unpredictability, the unusual matchup has captivated fans across the world, where its tipped to break viewership records on Netflix. While Paul has promised a strong performance, with potential earnings of $40 million from the event, Tyson’s legendary presence and legendary punch power keeps fans intrigued.
DragonBet full odds including grouped round betting, rounds completed and specials here.
