YouTube performer and pugilist Jake Paul has “requested changes from the boxing commission in charge of the fight” amid a flood of online criticism over his exhibition bout with Mike Tyson.
Paul will face 57-year-old former unified heavyweight champion Tyson in a boxing match at the AT&T Arena in Texas on July 21 (AEST).
News has continued to leak regarding the rules of the fight since it was announced last month, with the fight being held under exhibition rules due to Tyson’s age.
There was much speculation that the bout would take place under traditional combat rules, with both fighters wearing protective headgear and 18-ounce gloves.
However, Tyson denied these claims but confirmed that the bout would be an exhibition fight. He said the circumstances of the game do not determine how competitive it will be.
“This is called an exhibition, but when you look for an exhibition, you don’t see any of the laws that we’re fighting under,” Tyson told Fox News.
“This is a fight. I don’t think he’s faster than me. I saw a YouTube video of him doing some weird dance when he was 16.” “That’s not the guy I’m fighting. This is a guy who’s going to hurt me, and that’s always been the case with me, and he’s going to make a big mistake.”
Paul reiterated his commitment to Tyson’s brutality and said he has asked the authorities concerned to give the fight professional status rather than an exhibition.
“It’s very annoying that people believe everything they see and hear on the internet. There’s so much misinformation out there,” he said.
“Mike and I want this to be a professional fight with full face shots. We are submitting this application to the committee.” It’s all-out war.
Paul, 27, has 10 fights under his belt, most of them against former UFC stars, and Tyson was once the youngest heavyweight champion in history.
Ashley’s opinion:
Jake Paul’s plea for changes to the Boxing Commission highlights the evolving landscape of exhibition fights, especially in light of his upcoming bout with Mike Tyson. Rules and expectations remain up for debate, but both fighters are preparing for a promised showdown. Tyson’s attitude towards the nature of the fight emphasizes its seriousness, even though it is described as an exhibition. Paul’s pursuit of professional status reflects his determination to challenge perceptions formed by online speculation and to make events as competitive as possible.
