Boxing 2024

[PeterWithesShin]

The fight between YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul and former world champion Mike Tyson on 20 July in Texas has been postponed.

The bout at Arlington's AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, had been officially sanctioned as a professional fight but Tyson, 57, says he has been unable to train after a recent ulcer flare up.

"Unfortunately, due to my ulcer flareup, I have been advised by my doctor to lighten my training for a few weeks to rest and recover," said Tyson.

"My body is in better overall shape than it has been since the 1990s and I will be back to my full training schedule soon."

Organisers have not mentioned light-welterweight champion Katie Taylor's rematch with Amanda Serrano, which was due to take place on the same night, but it is anticipated it will also be moved with the rest of the card.

Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), who are staging the event at the 80,000 capacity stadium alongside Netflix, said a new date for the fight will be announced on 7 June.

"The recommendation is for Mike Tyson to do minimal to light training over the next few weeks and then return to full training with no limitations," MVP said.

"Both Mike and Jake are in agreement that it is only fair to ensure that both athletes have equal training time to prepare for this important match and are able to compete at the highest level.

"The health and wellbeing of athletes is our top priority, and we fully support Mike in taking the necessary time to allow him to perform at the level he expects of himself."

Tyson, who would have turned 58 at the time of the fight and whose professional career ended in 2005, most recently competed in an exhibition bout in 2020.

He was the first heavyweight boxer to simultaneously hold the WBA, WBC and IBF titles in 1987 but his reign as unified champion came to a shock end in 1990 as he was beaten by Buster Douglas in one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.

Paul, 27, is 30 years younger than Tyson and has won nine of his 10 fights, mostly against former UFC fighters, with his solitary defeat coming against British boxer Tommy Fury in February 2023.

He added: "I fully support postponing the event so Mike Tyson has no excuses come fight night."

Paul said he did not want to face Tyson "at anything but his best".

[edgysatsuma89]

That last line... can we shove Paul in a time machine, then? Now that fight I would pay to see. Murder: Live On Netflix.

[PeterWithesShin]

Imagine Paul against a younger Tyson at his peak

[Rory]

Imagine Paul against a younger Tyson at his peak

I imagine Paul has done everything he can to avoid watching such videos. The whole affair is grotesque. What next; dig up Frazier and see how his corpse does against Andrew Tate?

[edgysatsuma89]

Imagine Paul against a younger Tyson at his peak

I imagine Paul has done everything he can to avoid watching such videos. The whole affair is grotesque. What next; dig up Frazier and see how his corpse does against Andrew Tate?

Replace 'Frazier' with 'Chernobyl Fireman', then you're on to something.

[Rory]

I just think 'fair play to AJ'. Against Ngannou, he showed what could (and should) happen when a professional boxer in his prime faces an amateur. And Ngannou is a fearsome man.

Tyson in his prime vs Jake Paul? I'd like to think somebody, somewhere would've stopped it from happening. Proper body donation territory.

[Risso]

Imagine Paul against a younger Tyson at his peak

It's mental to think that in 1985 and 86, Tyson fought and won 28 times.

[PeterWithesShin]

In fairness those fights lasted a total of about 15 mins!

[Risso]

In fairness those fights lasted a total of about 15 mins!

There is that! It's still funny to think though that even if you disregard the chaff he was fighting at the start, (like three fights in Nov '85), between Nov '86 and June '88 (a little over a year and a half) he fought and beat all of Berbick, James Smith, Pinklon Thomas, Tony Tucker, Tyrell Biggs, Larry Holmes, Tony Tubbs and Michael Spinks. Eight fights against people who were nearly all heavyweight champion at one point or another. Incredible stuff. You'd be lucky to get one of those a year now.

[taylorsworkrate]

Hamzah Sheeraz is a bit special

[Villa Lew]

Well done Dubois, sounds like it was a cracking fight.

[taylorsworkrate]

Well done Dubois, sounds like it was a cracking fight.

Its been a great card in fairness. If I'd have actually paid the box office fee then I wouldn't feel cheated.

[edgysatsuma89]

Imagine Paul against a younger Tyson at his peak

It's mental to think that in 1985 and 86, Tyson fought and won 28 times.

Fuck off! I never knew that. Apart from them being quick, why was that? Or was it normal to have a few more than 2/3 a year back then?

[Rory]

Imagine Paul against a younger Tyson at his peak

It's mental to think that in 1985 and 86, Tyson fought and won 28 times.

Fuck off! I never knew that. Apart from them being quick, why was that? Or was it normal to have a few more than 2/3 a year back then?

Tyson fought a lot early on because he didn't have a particularly extensive senior amateur career, so he was building experience. For the sake of comparison, Tyson was a pro at 18; Usyk didn't turn pro until he was 26.

Plus in those days it was politically more difficult to get title fights, with organised crime still heavily involved in promotion and fewer belts on offer, so it wasn't uncommon for a fighter to need 20-25 fights before getting a shot at a title. These days it's more like 10-15, sometimes fewer. Depending on the results, of course.

Also, frankly, I think Tyson and his team were so confident that he'd beat anyone put in front of him that they agreed any fight that came their way.

He'd had as many professional fights before turning age 23 as Tyson Fury has had in his career. (With the laughably good record of 36 fights, 36 wins, 32 by KO or TKO.)

[manic-road]

That should be the end for Wilder now, can't see him boxing again after last nights fight.

https://x.com/SpinninBackfist/status/1797062799413104886