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When the boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul was announced in early March it had not yet been determined whether the bout would be an officially sanctioned fight or an exhibition nor was it clear how many rounds it would be scheduled for — or if there were any caveats.

Now, those answers are known.

Tyson, the Hall of Fame former undisputed heavyweight champion and global icon, and Paul, the YouTube and social media personality turned cruiserweight boxer, will meet in an official fight that will go on their records when they square off on July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in a bout that shapes up as one of biggest spectacles in combat sports of the 21st century. Netflix, in its first foray into boxing, will stream the event worldwide.

Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions and Holden Promotions announced on Monday that the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation has agreed to sanction the bout as a full-fledged contest, although with a couple of notable exceptions.

The eight-round heavyweight fight will be contested with two-minute rounds rather than the male standard three-minute rounds. Also, Tyson and Paul will wear 14-ounce gloves instead of the standard 10-ounce gloves for heavyweight fights.

There is sure to be some controversy surrounding the decision given that the long-retired Tyson is 57 and has not had an official bout since being knocked out by journeyman Kevin McBride in the sixth round in June 2005, and Paul is 27 and in his physical prime.

“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,” MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian said in a statement. “Over the past six weeks MVP has worked with its partners to satisfy the requirements of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to sanction Paul vs. Tyson and we are grateful that we have gotten to this point.”

Tyson, who has boxed in two exhibitions since his retirement, headlined a pay-per-view card in November 2020 against legend Roy Jones Jr. in an eight-round exhibition. On the undercard that night at then-Staples Center in Los Angeles was Paul, who was in his second professional fight and scored a blistering second-round knockout of former NBA player Nate Robinson that went viral.

Now, Paul (9-1, 6 KOs) and Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) will face each other in an official bout at the 80,000-seat home of the Dallas Cowboys.

“What yall going to say now,” Paul posted on social media. “Mike Tyson wanted it to be a pro fight. Netflix wanted it to be a pro fight. So I agreed to make it a pro fight. Winner takes all.”

Tyson also chimed in on his social media: “Yes it’s a real sanctioned fight with Jake Paul.”

Tyson was 20 when he became the youngest heavyweight champion in history in 1986 and has fought in some of the biggest fights of all time. After losing three of four fights by knockout, he retired after the McBride fight in 2005.

As previously announced, the card will also feature the much-anticipated rematch between undisputed women’s junior welterweight champion Katie Taylor and unified featherweight champion Amanda Serrano, who waged an unforgettable fight in the highest-profile women’s boxing match in history in April 2022.

Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs), 37, of Ireland, the undisputed lightweight champion at the time, won a disputed split decision over Serrano (46-2-1, 30 KOs), 35, a Puerto Rican southpaw and winner of titles in a women’s record seven divisions, in the instant classic battle. It was not only the first female fight to headline at New York’s Madison Square Garden but they sold out the famed arena.

“MVP has championed fighter choice since its inception, including advocating for women’s boxing to be contested with two- or three- minute rounds based on the particular fight matchup,” Bidarian said. “Paul vs. Tyson and Taylor vs. Serrano 2 will both be contested with two-minute rounds and each mega-fight will have its winner. Thank you to the TDLR and Holden Boxing for their efforts throughout this process to date and we look forward to working closely with them as we approach fight night.”

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