Mike Tyson-Jake Paul battles odds that divide Las Vegas bettors | Bets

Mike Tyson is 58 and his last professional fight was 19 years ago.

However, that hasn’t stopped bettors from betting on “Iron Mike” when the former world heavyweight champion returns to the ring on Friday against 27-year-old YouTuber and former boxer Jake Paul.

At Caesars Sportsbook, where Tyson accounts for 91 percent of the tickets and 77 percent of the money for the fight, Paul is just a -240 favorite.

Tyson, known in his heyday as “the baddest man on the planet,” has shrunk to a +180 underdog after a William Hill bettor in Nevada bet $25,000 on him at +190.

William Hill also bet $5,000 on Tyson to win by KO, TKO or DQ (+225). Caesars took bets on Paul of $5,500 (-275) and $5,000 (-240).

The boxing match at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys, will be broadcast live on Netflix. The sanctioned professional fight features eight two-minute rounds and 14-ounce gloves. It counts against Tyson’s career record of 50-6 with 44 knockouts.

The consensus total for the fight is 5½ rounds, with Circa at 4½ and Caesars at 6½ (under -135).

“I expect Mike Tyson to make this fight competitive in the first four rounds, with his strength playing a role. I think he will be under too much pressure after that and his age will show in the second half of the fight,” said Brandon Yaeger, the leading combat sports oddsmaker at Caesars. “Jake Paul has shown that even if he is not the most technical boxer, he has some power in his hands.

“This leads me to believe that a referee has only a short control over the damage he is allowing Tyson to suffer due to his age and health concerns. I think this could lead to Jake Paul being eliminated in the late round.”

The fight, originally scheduled for July 20, was postponed after Tyson suffered a medical emergency on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles on May 26, reportedly due to an ulcer.

Tyson is at +240 on Circa and +235 on the Westgate SuperBook, which has taken multiple $5,000 max bets on Paul.

“In fights of this kind, you proceed with caution. We’re taking smaller limits because we’re just not sure how serious it will be,” said SuperBook Vice President Jay Kornegay. “If (Paul) gets Tyson in trouble, will he back down because he doesn’t want to hurt him?

“All the small tickets go to Tyson. The audience is all about Iron Mike, but the bigger plays are about Paul. I know educated bettors prefer Jake Paul. But I’m not sure they have much confidence in it.”

Paul has fallen from a -330 favorite at Station Sports to -260 ahead of Tyson (+220).

“We’re definitely seeing some Tyson money. It was pretty lopsided in Tyson’s favor and I think the number will continue to go down,” said Chuck Esposito, sports betting director at Red Rock Resort. “It’s the lure of Mike Tyson knowing he could win this fight with one punch.

“I know the age difference is a big deal. But when you watch Tyson train, he still looks like Iron Mike. That’s why I think a lot of bettors prefer Iron Mike.”

Props for the matchup

In Caesars outcome predictions, Paul is the +125 favorite to win by KO, TKO or DQ, and he is +325 to win by decision or technical decision. For Tyson it is 9:1 to win by decision, in case of a draw the odds are 9:1.

Will the fight go the distance? No is a -200 favorite.

“We’ve all seen videos of Tyson training. He looks great, but I tell you, I’m 60, it’s not easy,” Kornegay said. “Although (Paul) is not an experienced boxer, he can take a punch or two and I am sure he will be able to take what Tyson can bring.

“How can you not say it’s an exciting duel?”

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at [email protected]. Follow @tdewey33 on X.