Jake Paul will face Mike Tyson in a blockbuster boxing match in Texas this summer to be screened live on Netflix.
In a bombshell announcement made on Thursday, it was revealed that social media superstar turned pugilist Paul and heavyweight legend Tyson would go head to head on July 20 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.
It has yet to be confirmed if the bout - which represents Netflix’s first live boxing event and will be promoted by Paul’s company Most Valuable Promotions - will be a professional contest or rather an exhibition.
“It’s crazy to think that in my second pro fight, I went viral for knocking out Nate Robinson on Mike Tyson’s undercard. Now, less than four years later, I’m stepping up to face Tyson myself to see if I have what it takes to beat one of boxing’s most notorious fighters and biggest icons,” said Paul.
“Within just two and a half years of founding MVP, we’re about to produce the biggest fight in history, a fight in the biggest NFL stadium in the US, broadcast live, on the biggest streaming platform in the world – a testament to all we’ve accomplished in such a short amount of time.
“Whether you’re tuning in on Netflix or showing out in person, whether you’re team Paul or team Tyson, or whether you’re a lifelong boxing fan or watching your first fight, you’re not going to want to miss this event.
“I could not be more excited to make this amazing fight available to all Netflix subscribers alongside the hardest hitter of all time, Mike Tyson, on Saturday, July 20th.
“My sights are set on becoming a world champion, and now I have a chance to prove myself against the greatest heavyweight champion ever, the baddest man on the planet and the most dangerous boxer of all time. This will be the fight of a lifetime.”
Tyson said: “I'm very much looking forward to stepping into the ring with Jake Paul at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. He's grown significantly as a boxer over the years, so it will be a lot of fun to see what the will and ambition of a ‘kid’ can do with the experience and aptitude of a GOAT.
“It's a full circle moment that will be beyond thrilling to watch; as I started him on his boxing journey on the undercard of my fight with Roy Jones and now I plan to finish him.”
The event will be only the third live sporting action ever to be shown on Netflix, following November’s Formula One and golf crossover competition known as The Netflix Cup and The Netflix Slam, an exhibition tennis match between Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz hosted in Las Vegas on Sunday.
"Mike Tyson is one of the biggest icons in boxing history and Jake Paul is one of the biggest disruptors in boxing history,” said Gabe Spitzer, vice-president of non-fiction sports at Netflix. “Saturday, July 20 will be pure drama in the ring in Texas.
“We are thrilled to partner with Most Valuable Promotions for this historic event and we can't wait for these two to face off for fans all across the world on Netflix."
