Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson Rules Explained
Think what you want about Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson, but the fight will go down at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Friday and it will be a legitimate sanctioned fight, not an exhibition.
Tyson is a former two-time heavyweight champion once known as “the baddest man on the planet”, but he turned 58-years-old in June and the fight has already been postponed once because of his medical issues.
Paul has seven knockout victories to his name, but he’s almost exclusively fought retired MMA fighters, most of whom weren’t known as strikers even in their prime. Still, Paul is 30 years younger than Tyson and he holds a five-inch reach advantage.
If you want a full breakdown of the fight, you can check out our Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson Boxing Odds and Prediction.
Let’s take a look at how the rules will work for this professionally sanctioned fight.
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson
This will be a fully sanctioned eight-round fight that will be added to both fighters’ professional records. It marks Tyson’s first professional fight since 2005, while Paul is looking to add to his 10-1 professional record. Here’s the cliff notes version of the rules:
- Eight rounds
- Two minutes per round
- 14-ounce gloves
First off, this will be a shorter fight than usual. Most men’s fights are 10 three-minute rounds. Paul has been fighting three-minute rounds since he turned pro, so the shorter rounds is clearly to help an aging Tyson.
The gloves will also be heavier than the 10-ounce gloves generally used in championship fights. This doesn’t benefit Tyson as he is known for his power, which will be limited by heavier gloves. Fatigue can also settle in faster with heavier gloves, so again, that favours the younger Paul.
Is Paul vs. Tyson sanctioned?
Given the 30-year age difference, Paul vs. Tyson has been a controversial fight from the start, but it is an officially sanctioned fight by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations.
Tyson last stepped into the ring for an exhibition fight against Roy Jones Jr. in 2020, but that had several restrictions like a ‘no knockout clause’ and it didn’t count toward either fighters’ professional record. That won’t be the case for Paul vs. Tyson as this will go on their official records.
How does scoring work for Paul vs. Tyson?
The favoured method of victory for both fighters is by knockout, but if the fight goes the distance it will be scored by three judges.
The fight will follow boxing’s typical 10-point format. Each round will be scored 10-10 (a split), 10-9 (depending on who won the round) or 10-8 (if there is a knockdown). The referee can also deduct points for an infraction.
