Love him or hate him, Jake Paul has undeniably brought a renewed interest and a new wave of fans back to the sport of boxing. On Friday night, millions will tune in not just to see Paul fight but with the hopes of seeing the brash YouTuber-turned-boxer get knocked out by the legendary Mike Tyson.
The two are set to face off in a highly-anticipated eight-round bout, with each round lasting two minutes, streamed live on Netflix from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The buildup to the fight has been nothing short of electric, with Paul and Tyson delivering plenty of entertainment before they even step into the ring. The event, which also features three world championship bouts on the undercard, garnered even more attention on Thursday when things got physical at the ceremonial weigh-ins.
As the two fighters faced off, tensions boiled over, culminating in a slap that quickly went viral.
During the weigh-in, Paul, known for his antics and his talent for getting under opponents’ skin, crawled up to Tyson before their final face-off in an attempt to taunt the boxing legend. But “The Baddest Man on the Planet” was in no mood for games.
Tyson reared back and slapped Paul, triggering chaos as officials and security personnel rushed in to separate the two fighters. The viral moment only added fuel to an already blazing fire, setting the stage for what promises to be an explosive clash.
Following the slap heard around the world, Paul had a humorous—and profane—exchange with his mother, Pam Stepnick, on the floor of AT&T Stadium, where the fight will take place.
Paul, ever the showman, posted the interaction to his Instagram Stories. In the video, Paul’s mother can be heard hilariously dissing Tyson, calling him a “f’ing little b*tch” for slapping her son. Not to be outdone, Jake quipped back, “You slap harder than him,” adding a bit of levity to the otherwise tense situation.
RELATED: Mike Tyson’s Financial Comeback: Net Worth, Wealth Journey, and His Paycheck for Jake Paul Fight
The slap and the subsequent exchange between Paul and his mother became an instant hit on social media, with fans on both sides sharing and commenting on the clip. Jake Paul didn’t let the moment pass without further trolling, as he took to Instagram to make light of the situation.
He called Tyson’s slap his “Chris Rock moment,” a nod to the infamous Oscars incident where actor Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock on stage. Paul even went so far as to change his Instagram profile picture to the now-iconic image of Chris Rock being slapped by Will Smith, keeping the jokes rolling and adding another layer to the pre-fight theatrics.
Jake Paul enters the fight with an impressive professional record of 10-1, with seven of those wins coming by knockout. His lone loss came by split decision to Tommy Fury in February 2023—a fight that humbled Paul but also motivated him to return stronger.
Since that loss, Paul has gone on an impressive run, winning his next four fights, including three by knockout. The controversial fighter has proven that he has the skills to compete in the ring, despite entering the sport as an outsider.
Now, Paul faces perhaps his biggest challenge yet in Mike Tyson, a true legend of the sport with 50 professional wins and 44 knockouts to his name. Tyson, at 58 years old, is coming out of retirement for this highly-publicized fight, and while he’s far from the peak of his career, his experience and power still make him a formidable opponent.
Fans around the world are eager to see whether Paul can continue his winning streak or if Tyson will show the young influencer just how fierce “The Baddest Man on the Planet” can still be.
The hype surrounding the Paul vs. Tyson fight has reached a fever pitch, fueled by their on-stage clash, trash talk, and viral social media moments.
As the two fighters prepare to step into the ring, the world will be watching to see if Jake Paul can back up his bravado or if Tyson will deliver a knockout blow that reminds everyone why he’s one of the greatest boxers of all time.
The highly anticipated event begins streaming at 8:00 p.m. ET on Netflix, and whether you’re rooting for Jake Paul or hoping to see Mike Tyson humble the internet star, one thing is certain—this fight is going to be one for the history books.
Fans will be glued to their screens, waiting to see who comes out on top in what has quickly become one of the most talked-about matchups of the year.
