We are just over two months out from boxing’s biggest fight of the year (yes, we mean that) – Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul.
On Friday November 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the 58-year-old former two-time heavyweight champion of the world will fight a YouTuber 31 years his junior in a fight which has actually been officially sanctioned as a professional fight. For real.
Already tickets are selling fast at the 80,000-seat home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, priced at anything from $200 up to more than $5000. And the whole thing will be streamed live by Netflix as the entertainment platform dips its mighty toes into the waters of live sports.
READ MORE: Jake Paul issues Mike Tyson health update as rumours swirl
The bout had initially been scheduled for July 15, but ‘Iron Mike’ was forced to pull out of that date due to an ulcer flare-up. Despite fears to the contrary, organisers say the bout will go ahead in November, and Jake meanwhile claims Mike is ‘super healthy’.
As this is an actual professional fight, there are also odds – yes you can bet on this ‘match’. It is an eight-round affair with all rounds two minutes rather than the normal three. A nod of the head to the 58-year-old Tyson surely. Both men will wear 14oz gloves and there are no headguards.
So what about those odds? Who is favoured to win what is being described as both a ‘global event’ and a ‘freak show’. Depending on your POV.
Latest Odds
At the time of writing, ‘The Problem Child’ is a firm favourite, with sportsbooks clearly believing Tyson has a puncher’s chance only, and a limited amount of time to land that punch. Remember Mike was shot as an elite fighter when he retired around 20 years ago – is he really better now?
The latest US odds are as follows:
DraftKings: -265 Jake Paul, +205 Mike Tyson
BetRivers: -335 Jake Paul, +245 Mike Tyson, +1800 Draw
Meanwhile, if you are across the pond in the UK, your odds right now look something like this:
Bet365: 4/11 Jake Paul, 5/2 Mike Tyson, 15/2 Draw
Sky Bet: 2/5 Jake Paul, 9/4 Mike Tyson, 15/2 Draw
PaddyPower: 1/3 Jake Paul, 13/5 Mike Tyson, 9/1 Draw
NB: Odds correct Tuesday September 10, 2024
When is Tyson vs Paul?
The fight goes down Friday November 15, in Arlington. Ring walks are expected to be at around 2300 Eastern Time. That is 2000 Pacific, or 0400 Saturday if you are in the UK.
How to watch live on TV
Okay, as we said, this is a major first for Netflix. Its first foray into big-time boxing.
The entertaining streaming platform will air the bout in five languages.
There is no PPV cost – all you need is a regular Netflix subscription to watch the fight.
