Jake Paul has confidently asserted that he will knock out Mike Tyson if the legendary heavyweight boxer attempts to repeat his infamous ear-biting incident during their upcoming bout on July 20.
Reflecting on Tyson’s notorious moment from 1997, when he bit Evander Holyfield’s ear during a match, Paul made it clear that he won’t be an easy target. “He can’t bite my ear off if I break his teeth first,” Paul stated in an interview with Fox News. “I think Tyson is underestimating me. This is a heavyweight fight. Tyson is bigger, but I am faster. Tyson is strong and experienced, but I am young and smart, and this will be a really interesting fight.”
On April 13, Tyson responded by posting a video of himself delivering powerful punches during a training session, warning, “I can’t wait for this to be Jake.” The 57-year-old boxer has been training with coach Rafael Cordeiro since February, maintaining his speed, power, and precision.
The fight, set to take place at the 80,000-seat home stadium of the Dallas Cowboys, will be streamed live on Netflix on July 20. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) will decide whether the bout will be classified as an official fight or an exhibition match, based on the recommendation of their sports program staff. This process involves evaluating the proposed matches at least 21 days before the event to ensure the fighters have equivalent skill levels.
Given Tyson’s age, he will need to comply with TDLR regulations that require fighters over 36 to provide recent physical exam reports, including brain and heart test results from the past year. This requirement ensures that fighters are in good health and can compete safely.
The significant age gap of 27 years between Paul and Tyson has sparked debate. Promoter Eddie Hearn expressed his disappointment over Tyson’s return, while Mexican boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez stated that he is not interested in the fight.
Tyson, however, dismissed the criticism, attributing it to jealousy over the global attention the fight is receiving.