What you should know about Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul Fight on Netflix

Topline

Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul will face off in a live boxing match on Friday that will be streamed on Netflix. It would be Tyson’s first sanctioned fight in nearly 20 years as concerns grow over the 58-year-old’s age and safety.

Important facts

How can I watch the Tyson-Paul fight on Netflix?

Netflix broadcast of the event at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas begins Friday at 8:00 p.m. EST.

What are the betting odds for the Tyson-Paul fight?

Paul is the favorite to win on most betting sites, with payouts ranging from $14.40 to $15.33 on a $10 bet. Payouts for a Tyson bet range from $27 to $28.75 on a $10 stake. Six states – New York, Colorado, Kentucky, Louisiana, Pennsylvania and Vermont – do not allow betting. Some state officials said the event was nontraditional and more like an exhibition.

Important background

The bout, organized by Most Valuable Promotions, which Paul co-founded, is officially sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, but has some different rules than regular matches. Both boxers will wear 14-ounce gloves instead of the 10-ounce gloves typical of heavyweight fights, rounds will last two minutes each instead of three, and there will be eight rounds instead of the usual 10 or 12. It was reportedly Tyson’s choice for the fight to be officially sanctioned rather than an exhibition, Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions, told ESPN. Tyson, who retired nearly 20 years ago, has had medical problems in the past, including chronic back problems, which were at the heart of his last win in 2003. Paul transitioned from primarily creating content on YouTube to boxing in 2020 and had just one loss over 11 fights against Tommy Fury, the half-brother of former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.

Main critic

Some have questioned the safety of the game amid concerns about Tyson’s age and health issues. “If I were Jake Paul I would be a bit embarrassed to be honest,” Eddie Hearn, CEO of Matchroom Boxing and one of the event’s top promoters, told BBC Sport last month. “This is dangerous, irresponsible and, in my opinion, disrespectful to the sport of boxing.” Hearn, who sued Paul in a libel case in September 2022 after Paul accused him of bribing boxing judges, said he would vacate his seat before the sport of boxing.” “The age difference is big enough that the event is dangerous,” Tyson said Tuesday as he defended the fight, saying, “Other people my age haven’t been training as long as I have.” and I’m just a different species of person.”

What you should pay attention to

The game is Netflix’s first foray into a major live sporting event. Investors and analysts alike are paying attention to participation as the event is designed to “increase engagement and attract subscribers, viewers and dollars at the ad level,” according to a note from JP Morgan analysts ahead of third-quarter earnings results. Netflix will also stream two NFL games on Christmas Day.

Further reading

Netflix Earnings: Stock Rises as Streaming Giant Beats Expectations – But Subscriber Growth Slows (Forbes)