Mike Tyson has confirmed that his upcoming fight against Jake Paul has been officially sanctioned as a professional match by a Texas commission.
This highly anticipated fight, set for July 20, was first announced in March and has been marked by plenty of heated exchanges between the two fighters despite their 31-year age difference.
Given Tyson’s long absence from professional boxing (his last fight was in 2005), many initially thought this match would be an exhibition. However, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations has given the go-ahead, meaning that the outcome will count toward both Tyson’s and Paul’s official records.
Tyson himself confirmed the news on Twitter, stating, “Yes it’s a real sanctioned fight with @jakepaul.”
The venue for the fight will be AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys, and it will be the first major sports event streamed live on Netflix.
According to Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions, both Tyson and Paul are committed to a sanctioned professional fight with a clear winner.
Over the past six weeks, the promoters have worked diligently to meet the requirements set by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations to make this happen.
Unlike traditional professional fights that consist of 12 three-minute rounds, this match will have eight two-minute rounds, and the fighters will use 14-ounce gloves for the bout.
