Austin, Texas — Mike Tyson’s fight against Jake Paul in Texas this summer has been sanctioned as a competitive boxing match rather than an exhibition, and the rounds will be shorter and the gloves heavier.
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation this week approved terms for the July 20 fight in AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Netflix will provide live coverage of the fight between 27-year-old Paul, a social media star turned boxer, and 57-year-old Tyson, who hasn’t fought since an exhibition against Roy Jones Jr..
A spokesperson for the Department of Licensing and Regulation said in an email to The Associated Press on Tuesday that “this will be a professional fight with a referee and judges and the results will count as part of the fighters’ professional records. So – it’s a real competitive fight.”
The fight is scheduled for eight two-minute rounds; Most men’s professional fights have three-minute rounds. The boxer’s gloves will weigh 14 ounces instead of the standard professional weight of 10 ounces; heavier gloves reduce the power of punches.
When approving fight terms, the department’s combative sports team considers, among other factors, each competitor’s age, medical examinations, history of wins and losses, and losses by knockout or technical knockout.
Paul built a significant following as a YouTube influencer before embarking on a professional boxing career four years ago. He won nine of 10 fights with six knockouts against mostly undistinguished opponents, including several mixed martial artists and a fellow YouTuber.
Tyson was the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world from 1987-90. He retired in 2005 after winning 50 fights, 44 by knockout.
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