Mike Tyson’s fight with Jake Paul was sanctioned as a professional boxing match by Texas authorities.
This means it will appear on their official record but will be shorter than most professional fights, taking place over eight two-minute rounds.
The gloves will also be more padded at 14 oz, rather than the 10 oz normally used.
There has been speculation about the rules of the fight and whether it would simply be an exhibition match, given the age gap between 57 and Tyson and Paul, 27 years old.
Some have also raised health concerns, fearing that Tyson’s punching power could seriously injure his less experienced opponent.
Training videos showed the American fighter pounding the punching bag with his characteristic ferocity.
However, others have questioned his fitness and believe Tyson could be injured given the effort of fighting a much younger man.
The fight was announced last month and will take place July 20 in Arlington. Netflix is streaming it live.
Promoters had worked with Texas licensing authorities to have the match approved as an official match.
Learn more:
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson – Everything You Need to Know
YouTuber Jake Paul made his professional debut in 2020 and defeated, among others, former UFC champions Anderson Silva and Nate Diaz under boxing rules.
His only loss came against the Englishman Tommy Fury in February 2023.
Tyson, on the other hand, is a boxing legend and became the youngest heavyweight champion in history at age 20, in 1986.
His last professional fight was a loss in 2005, but he put on an exhibition against fellow legend Roy Jones Jr in 2020, with the fight ending in a draw.
