Jake Paul has pushed back on speculation that his fight with Mike Tyson, scheduled for July 20 in Texas, will be an exhibition.
“Mike and I want this to be a professional fight, a full-face shot,” Paul said in an interview on Fox News Wednesday night. “We are submitting that request to the (boxing) commission. This is an all-out war.”
However, Tyson told Sean Hannity in an April 2 interview on Fox News that the fight would be an exhibition.
And the fight's promoter, Bryce Holden, told USA TODAY Sports earlier Wednesday that the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), which oversees combat sports in Texas and decides whether a fight is a professional bout, He said he had not submitted any requests. , exhibition or approved.
Holden, president of Holden Boxing LLC, declined to say whether the bout would be a professional bout or an exhibition. But he said he is in talks with officials who regulate martial arts in Texas. The game will be held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys.
While speculation continues, the rules for the Tyson vs. Paul fight scheduled for July 20 have not yet been determined, promoters told USA TODAY Sports.
“We're just having conversations to understand what's possible and what's not, and then talking to the (Tyson and Paul) camps,” Holden said. “We hope to come to a resolution here soon. “I hope,” he added. '
Things that haven't been decided yet include whether the fight will be a sanctioned professional fight or an exhibition, the number of rounds scheduled, the length of the rounds between two and three minutes, and the weight of the gloves.
“I know a lot of people are interested in this distinction and what's going to happen and what's going to happen,” Holden said. “But for now, I'm close with the members of the (Texas) committee and have a good working relationship, so we talk a lot about the whole event.”
Who decides the rules of the game?
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) initially told USA TODAY Sports that the exhibition in Texas would feature two-minute rounds and 16-ounce gloves instead of the 10-ounce gloves that Tyson delivered devastating knockouts during his professional career. He said they are required to wear gloves.
However, TDLR later stated that “the rules are not set in stone and each match is subject to review.”
TDLR would not comment on whether the proposed fight between Tyson and Paul would be a professional or exhibition fight or what rules would apply. TDLR communications manager Tera Manzi said a decision could not be made until promoters submitted fight cards.
Holden confirmed to USA TODAY Sports that it has not submitted a fight card with details that are still being negotiated with TDLR officials.
“TDLR carefully screens each fighter for each match, looking at their background (fight record, age, losing streak, time away from the ring between matches, etc.) to ensure the match is professional,” Manzi said in an email. We are deciding whether it should be there or not.” Determine whether a contest should be held at all, whether it's a match or an exhibition, based on whether the opponent is superior in experience or other factors. ”
Tyson, who turns 58 in June, is 50-6 with 44 knockouts and last fought professionally in 2005. Paul, 27, has fought with a record of 9 wins, 1 loss and 6 KOs since turning pro in 2020.
Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul Tickets
Tickets are expected to go on sale within the next 45 days, Holden said.
He declined to disclose ticket prices, but said he believed the 80,000-seat stadium could be sold out.
“I definitely think we can sell it out,” Holden said. “We knew there would be a lot of interest in this event, but the way we got into the zeitgeist was pretty incredible. It was more than we could have imagined.”
Follow reporter Josh Peter on social media @joshlpeter11
