Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul Sanctioned Boxing Match Official Rules

Mike Tyson and Jake Paul will box in a sanctioned match in Arlington, Texas on July 20.

By the time the bell rings, Tyson, one of the all-time great heavyweight boxers, will have celebrated his 58th birthday. Paul is 27 and agreed to modified rules for the bout.

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations stamped its approval on changes in the format of the fight, including eight rounds lasting two minutes – instead of the traditional standard three-minute rounds – and heavier gloves.

Rather than 10-ounce gloves, the fighters are being fitted with 14-ounce gloves.

"If we have shorter rounds, we'll fight more. More action," Tyson said.

Netflix is streaming the fight at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys with a seating capacity of 80,000.

Tyson will reportedly be paid $20 million for the fight. He was last in the ring for an exhibition with Roy Jones Jr. in July 2020 that indicated neither fighter was primed for a competitive bout.

Tyson (56-6, 44 KOs) lost in a TKO to Kevin McBride in his last competitive fight in June 2005.

“Mike got into training camp and called up people on my team and were like, ‘Let’s do a pro fight. Is Jake down?’ Netflix was like, ‘Let’s make it a pro fight. We’re down,’ And I said to Nakisa (Bidarian, Paul’s manager and business partner), ‘If that’s what Mike wants, then that’s fine, but make sure you tell Mike that there’s no holding back,’” Paul said on his podcast of how the fight came together.

Paul is 9-1 with eight knockouts but his weight is a talking point in the Tyson camp. 

Previously fighting at 200 pounds, Paul is closer to 230 and Tyson called his physique “soft” this month. 

Paul rose to prominence as a Vine and YouTube attraction and worked toward challenging professional boxers by taking on crossover opponents.

Paul lost a split decision to Tommy Fury in 2023 not long after declaring he was pursuing a pro boxing career.

He mostly challenged MMA fighters to boxing matches to rack up wins over the likes of Ben Askren, Nate Diaz and Anderson Silva. Each of those fights were deemed more legitimate in the boxing community than previous celebrity bouts, including a knockout of former NBA point guard Nate Robinson in 2020.

Now Paul stands on the doorstep of what is expected to be a record audience in Netflix’s first foray into competitive combat sports coverage.

Paul, in a video posted to social media, said facing Tyson will be the biggest moment of his life.

"Well, here we are. Biggest moment of my life, biggest stage. From Vine, to a stadium. 80,000 people, breaking records. The highest gate ever, this is a testament to hard work. Dedication, manifestation, believing in yourself. Just a surreal full-circle moment for me. Dallas was the first place I went to for a fan meet up when I was 17 years old off of Vine."