On April Fool’s Day, a surprising turn of events saw Jake Paul reportedly breaking down in tears, urging his brother, Logan Paul, to convince Mike Tyson to call off their highly anticipated match.
Despite the sensational headlines that followed, such as “Jake Paul Officially Canceled Mike Tyson Fight After Being KO’d In Sparring,” the true status of the bout slated for July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, remains uncertain.
The event remains listed on the official calendar for AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys.
Joe Trahan, Director of Media Relations & Corporate Communications for the Cowboys, confirmed to USA TODAY Sports that there have been no signals from either fighter’s camp suggesting any issues with the event. “As far as I know, everything’s locked in,” Trahan stated.
However, the fight has yet to secure formal approval from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). Tela Mange, Communications Director for the TDLR, explained that while the promoter has submitted a date request, no fight cards have been received for review.
Mange stressed that all bouts are subject to review and approval by the TDLR, and merely requesting a date does not guarantee the event’s occurrence.
Mange added that it’s not uncommon for events to be canceled, with promoters often withdrawing for various reasons before or after submitting fight cards.
The approval process involves evaluating the combatants’ fight records to ensure fair pairings, with the final decision resting with TDLR interim Executive Director Brian E. Francis and the TDLR Combative Sports staff.
Both Mike Tyson and Jake Paul must undergo necessary medical tests, including EEGs and EKGs, with additional testing as deemed appropriate by the TDLR.
Tyson, a legendary two-time world champion, boasts a record of 50-6 with 44 knockouts, while Paul holds a 9-1 record with six knockouts. However, with Tyson being 30 years older than Paul and having not fought professionally since 2005, questions about their readiness and medical clearances linger.
Notably, Tyson has experienced fight cancellations in the past, including a postponed bout with Evander Holyfield in 1991 due to a rib injury, and more recently, a bout between Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin was canceled in 2018 after Alvarez tested positive for a banned substance.
As of now, tickets for the Tyson-Paul fight are not available for purchase, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the event. Trahan highlighted the unconventional approach to ticket sales, expressing uncertainty about the ticket situation.
In conclusion, while the fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul remains on the calendar and both camps appear committed, final approval from the TDLR and pending ticket sales introduce an element of uncertainty.
Fans eagerly await further developments to see if this blockbuster match will indeed take place as scheduled.