Before agreeing to his clash with Jake Paul, Mike Tyson reportedly had one condition.
The announcement of their showdown, made in collaboration with Netflix, shocked the world with the return of ‘Iron Mike’.
The event, scheduled to air live on Netflix, caught attention, especially considering Tyson’s previous statement on fighting Paul only if it broke pay-per-view records—a condition now seemingly irrelevant as it’s not on PPV and available to all Netflix users.
In an interview on the Club Random Podcast back in May 2022, Tyson expressed his perspective on Paul, acknowledging him as a fighter despite societal perceptions.
'We signed the contract.' @netflix @MostVpromotions tions #PaulTyson pic.twitter.com/1H97Epxnkp
— Mike Tyson (@MikeTyson) March 7, 2024
He commended Paul’s promotional skills while underscoring his fighting ability. Yesterday, confirmation arrived that the fight has been officially sanctioned as a professional contest, with both fighters’ records on the line.
The heavyweight bout will consist of eight, two-minute rounds, with each fighter using 14-ounce gloves and no headgear.
Knockouts are permitted, given the professional nature of the contest.
Mike Tyson wanted it to be a pro fight. Netflix wanted it to be a pro fight. So I agreed to make it a pro fight. Winner takes all pic.twitter.com/fNLnIiD8fM
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) April 29, 2024
Tyson’s insistence on a professional fight, echoed by Netflix, culminated in the agreement, with the stipulation that the winner takes all.