Jake Paul and Mike Tyson are not messing around.
After months of dancing around rules for their controversial boxing match this summer, on Monday it was announced that the bout has been officially sanctioned and will go down as a professional matchup.
That means that the result will be reflected on both boxers’ professional records, which would not have been the case had the fight been held as exhibition – which was originally the belief.
Tyson confirmed on social media that the fight has been sanctioned, posting: “I wasn’t joking when I said this would be a real fight.”
He also shared a poster promoting the fight saying “Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson Sanctioned as pro fight — who wins?” The caption read “Yes it’s a real sanctioned fight with Jake Paul.”
Paul also shared the poster with the caption “Mike Tyson wanted it to be a pro fight. Netflix wanted it to be a pro fight. So I agreed to make it a pro fight. Winner takes all.”
With the sanctioning, the rules also have been set for the bout.
Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions said that the heavyweight bout will be sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations, with the two fighters competing in 14 oz gloves over eight, two-minute rounds.
“Mike Tyson and Jake Paul signed on to fight each other with the desire to do so in a sanctioned professional fight that would have a definitive outcome,” MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian said.
Tyson, who will be 58 years old when the fight goes down on July 20, has not fought professionally in nearly 20 years, when he was beaten by Kevin McBride.
However, he did face Roy Jones Jr. In an exhibition match in November 2020, which ended as a draw.
The former undisputed world heavyweight champion has an official record of 50-6 with 44 knockouts while Paul’s record stands at 9-1.
The YouTuber-turned-boxer, 27, made his in-ring debut in 2020, with his only defeat coming to Tommy Fury last year. The majority of Paul’s opponents have been fellow influencers, athletes and MMA stars who weren’t particularly adept at boxing.
Tyson vs. Paul will take place at AT&T Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, and will be broadcast live on streaming giant Netflix.
Both fighters have shared aspects of their training in the lead up to the big event. Recently Tyson told Forbes that he has imposed a strict three-month sex and cannabis ban on himself
“I’m living my life disciplined now, so I’m fight-disciplined now. In probably six weeks, I haven’t gotten high or had sex,” Tyson told the outlet.
“It’s just discipline, it’s doing what you hate to do but doing it like I love it. I hate not being able to not to smoke but I’m doing it like I love it.
“I hate not being able to sleep with my wife but I’m doing it like I love it, because I want it I won’t do it.”
As for Paul, the 27-year-old reportedly has bulked up for the heavyweight fight. While he previously competed at 200 pounds, boxing legend Sugar Shane Mosley recently revealed that Paul now weighs around 230 pounds.
“I just saw Jake yesterday, and he was 230 pounds,” Mosley said in conversation on YouTube with Jones Jr. “He said he feels as fast as he was at 185 or 190. He’s so young … He looks comfortable in the weight.”