In a much-anticipated showdown, former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson is set to face off against social media influencer-turned-boxer sensation Jake Paul in a high-profile boxing match that will be available for live streaming on Netflix.
The clash is scheduled to take place on July 20 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, boasting an impressive 80,000-seat capacity and serving as the home ground for the Dallas Cowboys.
At 57 years old, Tyson, who last entered the ring in November 2020 for an exhibition against Roy Jones, enthusiastically confirmed the bout through a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “We signed the contract.” Evidently eager to return to competitive boxing, Tyson expressed his anticipation for the challenge.
Acknowledging Paul’s growth as a boxer over the years, Tyson shared his thoughts in a statement, saying, “[Paul has] 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 on his boxing journey on the undercard of my fight with Roy Jones, and now I plan to finish him.”
Paul, who gained attention for his knockout victory over former NBA player Nate Robinson in only his second professional bout, expressed his excitement about the upcoming challenge. “It’s crazy to think that in my second pro fight, I went viral for knocking out Nate Robinson on Mike Tyson’s undercard,” Paul stated in a press release. “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.”
Highlighting the significance of the event, Paul emphasized the rapid success of his venture, MVP, stating, “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. 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. This will be the fight of a lifetime.”
This event marks Netflix’s continued expansion into the sports world, following recent presentations such as “The Netflix Slam,” a tennis matchup between Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz, the golf event “The Netflix Cup,” and an upcoming broadcast of WWE’s “Monday Night Raw” in 2025.