On April Fool’s Day, a surprising turn of events saw Jake Paul reportedly in tears, urging his brother, Logan Paul, to intervene with Mike Tyson to call off their much-anticipated match.
Despite sensational headlines suggesting otherwise, such as “Jake Paul Officially Cancels Mike Tyson Fight After Sparring KO,” the true status of their bout slated for July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, remains uncertain.
The official event calendar for AT&T Stadium lists the fight, but Joe Trahan, Director of Media Relations & Corporate Communications for the Dallas Cowboys, assured USA TODAY Sports that there have been no signals from either camp indicating any jeopardy.
“As far as I know, everything’s locked in,” Trahan affirmed.
However, formal approval from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) is still pending.
Tela Mange, Communications Director for TDLR, disclosed that while a date request has been submitted, no fight cards have been received for review.
Mange underscored that all bouts are subject to TDLR review and approval, cautioning that merely requesting a date doesn’t guarantee the event.
Mange explained that event cancellations are not uncommon, often due to various reasons before or after submitting fight cards.
The approval process involves evaluating combatants’ records to ensure fair matchups, with the final decision resting with TDLR interim Executive Director Brian E. Francis and the Combative Sports staff.
Scheduled to face off are Mike Tyson, a legendary two-time world champion, and Jake Paul, who holds an impressive record.
However, Tyson’s prolonged hiatus from professional boxing raises concerns, necessitating thorough medical examinations, including EEGs and EKGs, as required by TDLR.
Tyson has a history of fight cancellations, notably a postponed bout with Evander Holyfield in 1991 due to injury, and more recently, a 2018 match between Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin, which was called off after Alvarez tested positive for a banned substance.
Despite the fight’s listing, tickets for the Tyson-Paul bout are not yet available for purchase, adding to the event’s uncertainty.
Trahan admitted uncertainty regarding ticket sales, reflecting the unconventional approach taken.
While both camps appear committed, pending TDLR approval and ticket sales cast doubt on the fate of the Tyson-Paul match. Fans await further updates eagerly to see if this anticipated showdown will come to fruition as planned.