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The rules of the fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul may surprise viewers

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A 58-year-old man fighting a 27-year-old man in a sanctioned professional boxing match is not normal. The rules under which Mike Tyson and Jake Paul will fight on November 15th at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas do not apply either.

In a fight scheduled for eight rounds, here are the most important things to know about the non-traditional rules:

  • The rounds last two minutes, one minute shorter than the standard three-minute round typically used for men's fights. (Two-minute rounds are used for amateur fights and most women's professional fights.)
  • The boxing gloves weigh 14 ounces instead of the standard 10-ounce gloves typically used in sanctioned professional bouts by boxers weighing 147 pounds or more.

It is widely believed that Tyson will benefit from the shortened rounds as he will have to expend less energy when facing a boxer 31 years his junior.

There is further debate over whether either fighter will benefit significantly from the heavier gloves, with some boxing experts saying the extra padding will soften the blows.

“Yeah, all his rules,” Paul said on his podcast in May. “I agreed to all of his rules.”

Tyson has said he wants the two-minute rounds to increase the action. He hasn't looked into using heavier gloves.

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Tyson vs. Paul Rules: How Did This Happen?

Many state boxing commissions require three-minute rounds and 10-ounce gloves for professional fights involving male boxers who weigh 147 pounds or more. Not so in Texas.

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, which oversees combat sports in Texas, has acceded to the demands of the organizer of the Tyson-Paul fight when it came to rules.

The organizer is Bryce Holden of Holden Boxing. Holden works for Most Valuable Promotions, co-founded by Jake Paul and his advisor Nakisa Bidarian. Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix worked together to organize the fight. Holden did not respond to USA TODAY's requests for comment via voicemail or text message.

According to TDLR communications manager Tela Mange, the use of 14-ounce gloves in a sanctioned professional fight will be a first in Texas. Two-minute rounds for fights with male boxers are also rare in Texas, according to Mange.

“We've had a few men's fights that were pro debuts and were over two-minute rounds, but that was a while ago and I couldn't figure out who it was,” she said.

When asked why the TDLR made exceptions for the Tyson-Paul fight, Mange replied: “…if two participants request conditions that do not pose a safety issue and do not violate laws and/or rules, then we can agree to regulation. “ the event and ensure that these terms and conditions are enforced. “Heavy gloves and shorter laps do not make the event more dangerous for any participant.”

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What they say about the Tyson Paul rules

Nico Ali Walsh, the grandson of Muhammad Ali and a professional fighter, said he believes the non-traditional rules are important safety precautions.

“I don't think a sanctioning body would allow the fight with Mike if it were 10-ounce gloves and three-minute cartridges,” he said.

Asked whether sanctioning professional fighting depends on heavier gloves and shorter cartridges, Mange said the TDLR “will not speculate on this issue.”

But Kathy Duva, a longtime boxing promoter, suggested sanctioning the fight in name only given the current rules.

“Sanction or not, it’s an exhibition when you start changing the rules,” she said.

The main difference between a sanctioned professional fight and an exhibition is that the result of a professional fight counts toward a boxer's record.

Tyson hasn't fought professionally since 2005. His eight-round fight against Roy Jones Jr. in 2020 was an exhibition of two-minute rounds and 12-ounce gloves. The boxers were ordered by the California State Athletic Commission not to try to knock each other out.

In contrast, in a sanctioned professional fight, boxers are expected to attempt to knock each other out.

George Foreman, the retired heavyweight champion, clearly believes a knockout is possible despite using 14-ounce gloves instead of 10-ounce gloves.

“For a real puncher, there’s little difference,” he said. “Back when I was sparring, a lot of guys were injured and holding on when I hit them. …(A 14-ounce glove) can’t hide the power.”

Zach Schlouch, director of sportsbook operations at Rush Street Initiatives, suggests that the rules have an impact on how oddsmakers view the fight.

“Shorter rounds generally result in more action,” Schlouch told USA TODAY Sports via email. “When a round has less time, there is less emphasis on the long-term strategic approach and more on keeping the intensity high – which is, of course, what organizers and fans of this fight are looking for.

“However, in a fight like this with a large age difference, heavier gloves are used to keep fighters focused on proper technique and to prevent injuries. This fact definitely favors Jake Paul, as the larger gloves threaten to reduce Mike Tyson's speed.” “Legendary knockout punch.”

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