Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson Fight Rules: Shorter rounds and bigger gloves are among the unique rules for the fight

For better or worse, Jake Paul and Mike Tyson are scheduled to meet on November 15th. The fight comes after delays and concerns over whether a bout between 27-year-old Paul and 58-year-old Tyson should actually share the boxing ring.

Although there are many questions and concerns leading up to the fight, it is guaranteed to attract a tremendous amount of attention and money. The The heavyweight bout will take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas and will be streamed live on Netflix (more on that below).

Tyson, the former undisputed heavyweight champion, has not fought a professional fight since 2005, when he retired in a fight with Kevin McBride in his corner. While his life has been plagued by problems, including three years in prison following his 1992 rape conviction, Tyson has repaired his public image over the past decade.

Paul went from being a social media superstar to someone who decided to pursue boxing only to find that the sport appealed to him on a deeper level. Since then, he has become one of the biggest box office draws in the sport, compiling a 10-1 record with seven knockouts. These fights were primarily against crossover athletes such as former NBA star Nate Robinson and former UFC stars Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva and Nate Diaz.

“I think he always wanted to do this. This has been a long time coming. We've been calling each other for years and we were finally able to make it happen on Netflix, the biggest platform in the world, and it just stays that way.” “I'm just getting bigger and better,” Paul said during a press conference in May. “The co-main event [Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano]… I mean, this is literally history that we're looking at here. Mike wanted this. Mike wanted it to be a professional fight. He wants war, and that's why I respect that. I respect him for taking this fight, for trying to put an end to me, because all these fighters tried to take out the YouTuber, and if Mike can do that, then “He’s a hero.”

Let's take a look at what you need to know before the circus rolls into AT&T Stadium on Friday.

Shouldn't this fight have taken place in July?

Yes, the fight was originally scheduled for July 20th. It was postponed shortly after it was reported in May that Tyson had suffered a medical incident on a flight. It turned out to be an ulcer outbreak that was not expected to result in a postponement until a statement was released on May 31.

“During a follow-up with medical professionals on Thursday regarding his recent ulcer outbreak, the recommendation was that Mike Tyson should engage in minimal to light training over the next few weeks and then return to full training without restrictions,” the statement said.

Is this a “real fight” or an exhibition?

Unlike Tyson's exhibition fight with Roy Jones Jr. in 2020, this is an officially sanctioned fight that will go down on both men's professional records. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations approved the request to make the fight a licensed, professional bout, which many believe goes against common sense given the over 30-year age difference between the two men.

Although Paul vs. Tyson will be a professional fight, it will not be fought under the usual professional rules.

Isn't Mike Tyson too old for a sanctioned professional fight?

There are many states whose sports commissions would consider the answer to that question to be a resounding “yes,” especially given the nearly 20 years since Tyson fought in a licensed fight. Tyson is in fantastic shape for his age and videos of him in the gym still show impressive amounts of speed and power, but 58 years old is 58 years old no matter how you slice it.

Still, there is no specific rule on the TDLR books that prohibits licensing a fighter after a certain age, and the state is generally viewed as somewhat friendlier to fighters and promotions in big-money situations.

What are the rules for Tyson vs. Paul?

Although it is a professional fight, it is fought under some non-standard rules, particularly for men's boxing. The two rules that stand out are:

• The fight will last eight rounds of two minutes each. While men's professional bouts last between four and twelve rounds, these rounds are by default three minutes long, unlike women's who generally compete in two-minute rounds due to outdated attitudes from sanctioning bodies.
• Fighters wear 14-ounce gloves. Generally, boxers weighing 135 pounds and under wear 8-ounce gloves and fighters weighing over 135 pounds wear 10-ounce gloves. Since the fight is at heavyweight, this would generally require 10-ounce gloves. Instead, fighters wear 14-ounce gloves, which are generally only used in sparring and reduce the impact of punches.

How can I watch Tyson vs Paul?

Tyson vs. Paul is streaming live and free (for subscribers) on Netflix. The fight marks the first time that Netflix will broadcast a live combat sports event and is only the third streaming sporting event overall. Landing the fight is a big win for Netflix, which will attempt to break live event streaming records with a fight that, while not a top-level boxing match, will garner more attention than any top-level bout. professional boxers could be put together.

Is the undercard good?

Shockingly, yes. While many modern boxing cards are extremely top-heavy, Tyson vs. Paul offers a good mix of fights to introduce an audience largely unfamiliar with the sport. The top undercard fight – and top fight on the card in terms of skill and importance – features a rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano for Taylor's spot as undisputed lightweight champion. Their 2022 fight was a massive event and arguably the biggest women's boxing match of all time, as well as being the first women's boxing match to ever headline New York's Madison Square Garden. The fight wasn't just big, it was great, with exciting action before Taylor won a split decision.

Also on the card, Mario Barrios will defend the WBC welterweight title against Abel Ramos, the powerful Shadasia Green will take on Melinda Watpool and fast-rising featherweight contender Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington will take on Dana Coolwell . These fights complement a handful of other, less notable fights.

Who will win Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul on November 15th and what Paul vs. Tyson props should you have with you everywhere? Visit SportsLine now to see Brandon Wise's best bets for the Nov. 15 fight, all from the CBS combat sports specialist who just announced Paul's first-round win in March, and find out.