Professional fighting deviates from the norm

Jake Paulvs. Mike Tyson fight week has officially arrived, but anyone would be forgiven for still not knowing the rules.

After all, a boxing match between a 27-year-old YouTuber and professional boxer and a 58-year-old boxing legend is anything but normal. It's the kind of matchup that begs the question, “What the hell is going on here?”

And yet Paul, 27, and Tyson, 58, will step into the ring on Friday to headline a Netflix special event at the Dallas Cowboys' AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

So what are the rules for this most unlikely boxing match? Here are the most important things you need to know:

Does Paul vs. Tyson count as a professional fight?

Yes, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, which oversees the event, has approved Paul (10-1, 7 KOs) and Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) to compete in a fully sanctioned professional fight. The result will be credited to your records.

How many rounds are Paul vs. Tyson scheduled for and how long do they last?

Paul vs. Tyson is scheduled for eight rounds of two minutes each. The 2 minutes is one minute shorter than would normally be used for a men's professional fight and is normally reserved for amateur fights and women's professional fights. Two-minute rounds were specifically requested by Tyson, who should benefit from them.

Eight of Paul's career professional fights have been scheduled for eight rounds, including his last three. Paul's most recent fight not scheduled for eight rounds came on August 5, 2023, when he went the 10-round distance with former UFC star Nate Diaz and won via unanimous decision. Paul's first two professional fights of his career were scheduled for six rounds.

What size gloves are for Paul vs. Tyson?

Fighters wear 14-ounce gloves. This is 4 ounces heavier than 10-ounce gloves typically used in professional fights weighing 147 pounds or more. The idea here is that the extra 4 ounces provides a little more padding, making the fight safer for both men, but especially Tyson.

Who chose these rules: Paul or Tyson?

During an episode of his podcast “BS w/ Jake Paul” in May, Paul said that the rules for this fight were Tyson's idea.

“Yeah, all his rules,” Paul said. “I agreed to all of his rules.”

Given the concerns surrounding Tyson's health and conditioning as a much older fighter, that only makes sense.

For more information on the fight, visit MMA Junkie's Paul vs. Tyson hub.