On Friday night, Mike Tyson and Jake Paul will clash in a much-anticipated contest featuring eight two-minute rounds. The fighters will sport 14-ounce gloves, significantly heavier than the 10-ounce gloves typically used in championship bouts. Tyson, an icon of the sport, boasts an illustrious professional record of 50 wins (44 by KO), 6 losses, and 2 no contests.
Polymarket bettors as of 12:30 p.m. ET on Friday.
Jake Paul, who first rose to fame as a YouTube sensation alongside his brother Logan, transitioned into the boxing ring and built an impressive record of 10 wins (7 by KO) and 1 loss by the age of 27. Tyson, at 58 years old, brings decades of experience but a significant age difference to the ring. At 12:30 p.m. ET, about seven and a half hours before the fight, Polymarket bettors gave Paul a 65% chance of victory, while Tyson’s odds stood at 27%. The crypto-infused marketplace also shows a small but confident 10% predicting a draw.
The fight has also sparked chatter about its authenticity. Many fans and boxing insiders have voiced skepticism, questioning whether contractual stipulations might limit Tyson’s ability to fight at full capacity. Retired British professional boxer Carl Froch and other notable figures have publicly expressed doubts about the bout’s legitimacy. Adding fuel to the fire, a supposed “script” leaked online claims Paul will knock out Tyson in the fifth round. However, many supporters find the idea preposterous, arguing that Tyson would never tarnish his reputation with a staged performance.
This showdown isn’t just about punches and knockouts—it’s a collision of generations, fighting styles, and media platforms. While Paul enjoys the confidence of bettors, Tyson’s storied legacy looms large. As the clock counts down, boxing fans are brimming with anticipation, not just for the final result, but for how this spectacle might ripple through the sport’s future narrative.