The much-anticipated Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight, intended to launch Netflix’s foray into live sports, was postponed.
Once dubbed “the most watched boxing event in decades” by Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix, the Tyson-Paul fight now hangs in the balance. Tyson’s recent medical issue, reportedly related to ulcers, has led to a postponement. And in turn, that raises doubts about whether the highly anticipated bout will ever actually happen.
Mannix joined The Rich Eisen Show Monday to weigh in on that prospect.
Is the @miketyson vs. @jakepaul fight that was originally scheduled for July 20 in danger of never happening now that it’s been postponed?#PaulTyson #Netflix pic.twitter.com/jmLsylCOXJ
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) June 3, 2024
“Now, officially, they are saying they’re going to reschedule this fight,” says Mannix. “I have been told that two dates are being explored in Arlington, Texas. I think there’s a mid-October date that is available to them, and maybe even a mid-November date, as well. This is something that the Cowboys’ Stadium folks have conveyed to Jake Paul’s team…
“There is genuine concern from people that are also on the card — I mean, there are another number of fights that are also on the card — about this specific card moving forward. Again, Mike Tyson is 57 years old; he’s almost 58 years old. They’re saying it’s a minor ulcer issue, but I don’t think anything’s minor at that stage of your life, especially when it comes to putting yourself in the proper shape to fight a professional boxing match.”
While Mannix reports a planned fall reschedule for the Tyson-Paul fight, he said that there has been “some concern” about it ever happening. This uncertainty leaves other fighters on the undercard scrambling for opportunities on different events, essentially searching for “lifeboats” as Mannix puts it.
“Are we really surprised here? Are we shocked?” asked Mannix. “He’s 57. Things happen when you turn a certain age, especially when you’re trying to transform your body into a professional fighter. Look, Mike has always been in pretty good shape regardless, but if he’s going through the kind of training regimen that his team says he’s going through.
“And believe me, I was following him around for a few days in New York, and every time I tried to get some time with him, I would get messages from his team that would say, ‘Oh, he’s in intensive training mode right now.’ If you believe his team, he was training about 16 hours a day for this fight against Jake Paul. And when you’re putting your body through stuff like that, things are gonna happen.”
“I don’t think it’s completely off,” Mannix added. It’s certainly not out of the question. But again, there are people involved who are expressing skepticism that this specific fight is going to move forward.”
With lingering doubts about Tyson’s health and the event’s overall viability, all eyes are on whether the “most watched boxing event in decades,” as Mannix once dubbed it, will ever materialize.
