YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul takes on boxing icon Mike Tyson this summer and the influencer is hoping to make his MMA debut in PFL after the mega-fight.
Jake Paul faces Mike Tyson in Dallas on July 20 (Image: ZUMA Press Wire / eyevine)
Jake Paul is planning to make his MMA debut next year after facing boxing legend Mike Tyson this summer. YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul will face boxing icon Tyson in a professionally sanctioned fight on July 20 at the 80,000-seat Dallas Cowboys stadium in Texas.
The controversial fight has divided opinion amongst boxing fans as ‘Iron Mike’ will be 31 years older than Paul on fight night, the biggest age gap between two fighters in professional boxing history.
Paul signed with MMA promotion PFL last year but is yet to compete in the cage. The social media sensation offered Tommy Fury a mega $20million to have a rematch in the boxing ring following their fight last year, before facing each other for the third time but in a cage. PFL boss Peter Murray has admitted Paul’s MMA debut will likely not take place this year.
“We’re looking forward to dialling that in with Jake and his partner Nakisa Bidarian. In this scenario, once again, no shortage of major, major MMA top fighters that want to step into the cage with Jake including Nate Diaz. That would be an exciting fight. There are others that are lining up Jorge Masvidal, and there’s more.
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Paul has been widely criticized for agreeing to fight Mike Tyson in a professional bout (Image: Getty)
“We have options. Jake has options. We’re excited about it, but he’s continuing to focus on boxing right now. He’s got a big event coming up on Netflix against ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson in the boxing ring, so that’ll be captivating. Following that, we’ll see what’s next for Jake. But 2025 is definitely where he and his team are setting their sights.”
Paul’s MMA debut will be strengthened by his college wrestling experience but he never reached the level of his brother Logan, who had a record of 35-10 on the mats. Paul has set up a cage at his training base in Puerto Rico and PFL owner Donn Davis has insisted the influencer is very serious about an MMA career.
“The good news is, if people didn’t think Jake was serious about combat, he’s proven to be serious. He’s gotten better. He’s doubled down on boxing at the minute, there’s no question about it,” Davis said. “There was a time when he might have done 50/50 and right now it looks like he might be 90/10 in boxing and MMA.”
