You may have heard that there is a boxing event taking place at the AT@T Stadium in Arlington, Texas that is headlined by the heavyweight contest between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson. Yes, there are other fights on this card, but this is the one that will have everybody chillin' with Netflix on Friday night.
But the question is: is this a real fight?
I want to make this clear, these two will be getting in there and hitting one another. So by that definition it is a fight by any standard. This ain't tiddly winks. Credit has to be given to anyone that gets in there, bottom line. But perhaps the real question is if this should be sanctioned as a professional prizefight?
As they say, the devil is in the details. This particular bout will have Paul and Tyson wearing 14-ounce gloves. Generally, heavyweights sport 10-ounce mitts. Also instead of three minute rounds, this bout will have two minute stanzas, which is usually for boxing matches involving females. Also this bout is scheduled for eight rounds (which is more customary of preliminary fights).
So with all these caveats involved in this pairing, why did the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation sanction this?
It's the money, dummy.
But here are the facts related to this contest. Tyson is now 58 years old (and yes, just typing that out makes me feel old) and the last time he was in a fight was back in 2005 (geez, where does the time go?) where he was stopped in an ignominious fashion by Kevin McBride. Yet, through it all the iconic 'Iron Mike' has retained his popularity and has re-invented himself more than Madonna. Tyson will always remain popular with the American public.
As for Paul, the influencer-turned-boxer, he has actually become a somewhat serviceable one. His current record stands at 10-1 (7 KOs) and with his built-in popularity Paul has been able to build his record against a string of older MMA combatants, ex-NBA players and other social media personalities. He has improved his overall skills but in his one true step up against Tommy Fury, he lost an eight round decision.
It has to be asked, what does Paul get in defeating Tyson? (outside of a lot of money, of course) Does that in any way legitimize his career, or advance him towards a title opportunity?
One other question looms over this fight: will these guys actually really try to hurt one another? Or is it, as they say in professional wrestling, a work?
Will they really fight?
3KR
The return of 'the 3 Knockdown Rule' with Mario Lopez and I features a preview of this card, and our thoughts on the recent performances of Jaron Ennis, Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez and Keyshawn Davis:
THE 3 KNOCKDOWN RULE EPISODE 66 | DB3! AT THE SCOPE
To subscribe on your preferred podcast platform, click on the Linktree:
3knockdownrule - Listen on YouTube, Spotify - Linktree
FINAL FLURRIES
Also on this card is the WBC welterweight title bout between Mario Barrios and Abel Ramos. The semi-mai is the rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano....Before the Netflix portion of the card begins, featherweight contender, Bruce Carrington's fight against Dana Coolwell will be aired on the Most Valuable Promotions Youtube channel.... Saturday features 'Latin Night' in Saudi Arabia presented by Golden Boy Promotions on DAZN. The main event is the cruiserweight unification bout between Gilberto Ramirez and Chris Billiam-Smith.... The bout between Arnold Barboza and Jose Ramirez is on this card, as is William Zepeda-Tevin Farmer....I can be reached at k9kim@yahoo.com.....
