Boxing fans have been eagerly awaiting the much-hyped match between champion fighter Mike Tyson and up-and-coming star Jake Paul all year long. The bout, previously scheduled for July and postponed to Nov. 15, is finally moving forward, but it won't be a standard boxing match spectators are used to.
Tyson and Paul will face off in eight two-minute rounds for their big fight, according to CBS Sports. Men's professional boxing matches usually range from four to 12 rounds of three minutes each, while women's match rounds are set for two minutes. Tyson might be in top fighting shape, but shorter rounds could help the 58-year-old recover between beatings.
On top of that, the boxers won't be using your typical gloves to whack each other. Normal heavyweight matches usually feature 10-ounce gloves, but here, the two fighters will be wearing 14-ounce gloves. The increased cushioning compared to the more common eight- and 10-ounce gloves will help reduce the impact of punches on each other.
And while it might be a novelty matchup, it won't all just be for fun. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations approved their request to sanction the fight, meaning the licensed bout will go on both Tyson and Paul's professional records. This will be Tyson's first officially sanctioned fight since 2005, as his 2020 fight against Roy Jones Jr. was an exhibition match.
Still, with nearly 30 years between him and his opponent, Tyson isn't worried about anything. "Anything I'm afraid of, I confront it," he told Fox News back in April. "And that's my personality. Like right now, I'm scared to death. But as the fight gets closer, the less nervous I become because it's reality. And in reality, I'm invincible."
"This guy is going to come and try to hurt me, which I'm accustomed to. And he's going to be greatly mistaken," he boasted.
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson streams live on Netflix on Nov. 15 at 8 p.m. ET.