Today in “What the fuck is going on” news, Netflix has announced that the provocative YouTuber and cocky boxer Jake Paul is stepping into the ring with the pugilism GOAT himself, Mike Tyson. Yep, you read that right and nope, I can’t believe it either, but here we are. The match will air live on the streaming giant on July 20, and I think we can all guess how this face-off is going to end.
Netflix announced the news via Twitter on March 7, dropping a little teaser trailer along with it. Jake lands on a roof in a helicopter, Tyson approaches confidently, and they stare each other down in that weirdly intense boxing-promotion way before the July 20 date pops up. The bout will take place at Texas’ AT&T Stadium, the same place where the Dallas Cowboys host their home games. In a press release, Netflix said the heavyweight boxing mega-event marks Paul’s most-anticipated fight ever, and the controversial YouTuber and media personality—known as “The Problem Child” in the ring—agrees:
It’s crazy to think that in my second pro fight, I went viral for knocking out Nate Robinson on Mike Tyson’s undercard. 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. […] 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.
Tyson, who’s no stranger to controversy (or biting ears off when he’s feeling peckish), is a demon in the ring. While he hasn’t had an official boxing match since June 2005, the retired heavyweight champion still holds a record of 50 wins to six losses, with 44 of those Ws being complete knockouts. Known as “the Baddest Man on the Planet,” Tyson said he’s looking forward to the match.
“I’m very much looking forward to stepping into the ring with Jake Paul at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas,” Tyson said. “He’s 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 off on his boxing journey on the undercard of my fight with Roy Jones and now I plan to finish him.”
Tyson will be 58 by the time he crosses gloves with Jake Paul, who turned 27 earlier this year. Despite the 30-year age gap between the two fighters, this might be a one-sided slugfest, especially if what appears to be a recent video of Tyson sparring is anything to go by. Seriously, good luck, Jake Paul.
