Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight a circus full of questions — and fueled by mystery

Mike Tyson wasn’t in the mood for talking at the final news conference before he faces 58-year-old former heavyweight champion Tyson, who will be taking on YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

Tyson offered terse responses to all the questions on Wednesday night, two days before the fight against Paul, who is 31 years his junior. The fight will take place at the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.

The issue of Tyson’s health didn’t come up during the small concert venue press conference, which was held about 20 miles from AT&T Stadium. A bout originally scheduled for July 20 was postponed to Friday night after Tyson required treatment for a stomach ulcer following an illness he experienced during a flight.

Tyson revealed in a documentary promoting the fight that he lost 26 pounds while recovering. However, Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions, the company Paul co-founded, confirmed that Tyson had been medically cleared for weeks.

Bidarian also emphasized that Tyson had undergone all the necessary regular medical checkups required for any sanctioned pro fight in Texas.

Several other states had refused to sanction the bout. Texas, however, agreed to allow the fight, but with adjusted conditions: it would be eight rounds instead of the usual 10 or 12, the rounds would be two minutes long instead of three, and both fighters would wear heavier gloves to reduce the impact of punches.

Now 58 years old, Tyson isn’t carrying the promotion by himself — far from it.

This time around, he has a dance partner who bridges him to a younger generation of fans: Jake Paul.

The 27-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer has amassed a massive following and an undeniable ability to draw attention.

Paul’s knack for connecting with younger audiences on social media has created significant intrigue in his boxing career, whether positive or, more often, negative. His online presence has accelerated his rise in the sport, bringing him lucrative paydays and huge platforms almost no other fighter could access at this stage of their career.

The Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao fight in 2015 drew 4.6 million viewers, making it the most-watched boxing match in history. Nakisa Bidarian, who co-founded Most Valuable Promotions with Paul, claimed that their fight is trending toward 65,000 fans in attendance.

“I’m blessed to be in the position I am, to be highly criticized,” Paul said. “That just means I’m doing something right. No one has had a boxing career like mine. It’ll be studied and judged, but I’ve risen to the top in four years because I’ve taken risks.”

Tyson (50-6-2, 44 KOs), one of the most legendary — and controversial — figures in sports history, has not fought a professional bout since his loss to Kevin McBride in 2005, although he did compete in an exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr. in 2020.

Tyson was forced to delay this bout due to an inflamed ulcer following an illness during a flight in May, prompting the fight to be rescheduled from July 20 to Friday.

There is little precedent for 58-year-olds recovering from an inflamed ulcer stepping into the ring to be punched.

Paul (10-1, 7 KOs) has faced fellow influencers, MMA fighters-turned-boxers, athletes from other sports, and low-level professional boxers.

But what makes this bout even more unique is that, though it is officially sanctioned and will count on both fighters’ records, the fight will feature eight (rather than 10) two-minute rounds, which is typical for non-title bouts. In addition, both fighters will wear 14-ounce gloves, which are heavier than the usual 10-ounce gloves for heavyweights, in order to reduce the impact of the punches.

The combination of Tyson’s age and recent health concerns, Paul’s unconventional rise in boxing, and the unique conditions of the fight, all raise a host of questions — questions that will soon be answered in the ring.