Is Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul ‘scripted’ or is it a real fight?

On By Littum

It says something that several US states have banned betting on Friday’s fight between boxing’s Mike Tyson and attention’s Jake Paul. For example, you cannot place a bet in New York or a bet in Colorado, where gambling commissioners treat the event as something akin to an exhibition. That’s despite the fight’s official stamp of approval from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, but then anything goes in Texas.

The fight is dressed up as a professional boxing match, but it’s easy to see why some within the sport feel uncomfortable. The two outcomes of a truly brutal contest would be: a 27-year-old gym jock beats an ailing 58-year-old grandfather; or one of the most ruthless boxers ever beating an out-of-depth YouTuber. Regardless, the optics aren’t great.

Therefore, it is unlikely that any of these things will happen. Both boxers will wear heavy 14oz gloves to slow down the hands and cushion shocks, rather than the standard 10oz gloves.

The fight will take place across eight two-minute rounds, rather than the usual 12 three-minute rounds. It’s officially approved, but it’s also designed to avoid real horror.

Mike Tyson and Jake Paul meet at a press conference in Irving, Texas

Mike Tyson and Jake Paul meet at a press conference in Irving, Texas (Getty Images)

The build-up has been met with skepticism from people questioning whether this is a real boxing match or a wrestling-style soap opera whose history has already been written.

“I’ve heard and believe there’s something in the contract that means Tyson can’t even try to hurt him,” Carl Froch said. casino.org. “I’m sure if Tyson landed a big left or right hook on Jake Paul’s chin, he could knock him out … I don’t really see that happening, though. In my opinion, it’s all predetermined for Paul, and Tyson won’t have the opportunity.”

Mike Tyson’s former trainer Teddy Atlas raised similar concerns.

“My only question…is it real?” Atlas told The sun. “Maybe it is, I would hope it is… But will there be an honest effort to do what always seeks to be done, to go and destroy that guy, to knock him out?”

There is no evidence that the outcome of the fight is “fixed” as Froch claims, not least because the practicalities of writing the result into a legally binding boxing contract would be next to impossible. Perhaps “stage managed” might be a more accurate assessment.

This is not the first time that Paul’s boxing credentials have been investigated. He had to deny rumors that his victory against Tyron Woodley included a “no knockout policy” following unfounded allegations from MMA fighter Dillon Danis. A “script” for his fight with Tommy Fury circulated on social media before it was debunked as a hoax.

Paul insists he wants to topple the former heavyweight

Paul insists he wants to topple the former heavyweight (Getty Images for Netflix)

Paul is adamant about the fight’s legitimacy. At their press conference on Wednesday, he urged Tyson to be “old wild Mike” in the ring so no one can question his victory, and earlier tweeted: “Official rules for #PaulTyson. Someone is about to be knocked out. The end. “

A look back at Tyson’s most recent visit to the ring, a relatively tame exhibition with Roy Jones Jr., doesn’t exactly allay fears that Friday’s contest at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium might not live up to the fight talk — all hat and no cattle, as you says in Texas. Still, there has to be a result of some sort, with an experienced referee and three judges scoring ringside, which certainly gives the pretense of an honest fight.

Paul’s business partner Nakisa Bidarian, whose company Most Valuable Promotions is hosting the night, pointed out that it would be a “federal crime” to fix the result.

“These are pro fights that consumers are placing legal bets on,” he told ESPN. “I don’t think the critic who says it’s not real fighting thinks about (how) there would be jail time if we actually did this type of thing. We never have, and we never will, do anything but overboard and 100 percent a pro fight unless we come out clearly and say, ‘Hey, this is an exhibition fight, it’s a show.'”

Tyson swore 'I'm not going to lose!' but the much younger Paul is the favourite

Tyson swore ‘I’m not going to lose!’ but the much younger Paul is the favourite (Getty)

There is still plenty of concern about what exactly is being offered up here as entertainment. A US state commissioner has said the event would be “problematic” for boxing if Tyson was injured, while promoter Eddie Hearn, who is locked in a protracted legal battle with Paul after the boxer accused him of bribing a referee, said , that he would not appreciate the match by watching it.

“The reality is that 20 years ago, when Mike Tyson retired from the sport, he was shot, completely finished,” Hearn said. “It was actually sad to watch. If I were Jake Paul, I’d feel just a little bit embarrassed to be honest with you. This is dangerous, irresponsible and, in my opinion, disrespectful to the sport of boxing.”

Tyson has been involved in many infamous fights during his career, including one that ended with chants of “Fix!” from a frenzied crowd in Las Vegas. It was Tyson’s first contest after leaving prison in 1996 and his challenger Bruce Seldon fell to the canvas under seemingly light contact twice before being counted out. Seldon refused to take a dive, and the incident was quickly overshadowed by the murder of Tupac Shakur on the street later that night.

It was a long time ago and a very different Tyson. It’s not just that he’s almost 60 years old; he suffered a major health scare this year and “almost died”, in his own words. Taking punishment from the younger, fitter man would be a disturbing sight even for boxing, which is probably not going to happen. It will be a spectacle, that’s for sure. There will not be a script. But anyone tuning in for blood and thunder might do well to catch Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano beforehand.