Mike Tyson and Jake Paul will make history when they square off this summer.
‘Iron Mike’ ends his professional boxing retirement on July 20 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas live on Netflix.
Tyson vs Paul is the biggest age gap in professional boxing history – 31 yearsCredit: @MostVpromotions – x
Tyson will have just celebrated his 58th birthday by the time he climbs into the ring while Paul is in his physical prime at 27.
According to ESPN, the staggering 31-year age gap is the biggest in pro boxing history, surpassing the 24-year discrepancy between 49-year-old Archie Moore and 25-year-old Mike DiBiase when they met on March 15, 1963, in ‘The Old Mongoose’s’ swansong fight.
Moore, who holds the distinction of being the longest-reigning light-heavyweight world champion of all time, overcame the cards stacked against him to stop DiBiase in the third round.
Tyson will be hoping he can do the same when he dukes it out with Paul in two and half months’ time.
Their controversial bout, which has been met with widespread outrage from members of the boxing fraternity, looked as though it would be staged as an exhibition at first.
However, on Monday, Paul’s promotional company, Most Valuable Promotions, confirmed that his fight with Tyson will be sanctioned as a professional fight under the auspices of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR).
“Mike Tyson and Jake Paul signed on to fight each other with the desire to do so in a sanctioned professional fight that would have a definitive outcome,” said MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian.
“Over the past six weeks MVP has worked with its partners to satisfy the requirements of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR) to sanction Paul vs Tyson and we are grateful that we have gotten to this point.”
Moore (pictured) fought DiBiase, who was 24 years his junior, in 1963Credit: GETTY
The heavyweight showdown will be contested over eight, two-minute rounds with each fighter using 14-ounce gloves, but no headgear.
Knockouts are allowed and the result will go on both of their professional records.
Tyson has not competed as a professional since June 2005 when he retired on his stool at the end of the sixth round against regional-level pro Kevin McBride.
Meanwhile, Paul is an active boxer with 10 pro bouts (9-1) to his name over the last four years.
The TDLR said it has conducted a review of Paul and Tyson, evaluating both men’s records as well as their medical history before approving the pro-fight.
“The safety of the contestants competing in the ring or the octagon is always the primary concern,” the TDLR said. “This competition is no different.”
