Breaking: Netflix to Stream Live Boxing Match Between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul This Summer
The next live event from the world’s largest streaming service will take place on July 20.
In what can only be described as a shocking turn of events, Netflix has announced its next live event, and it will be a boxing match between former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and YouTuber turned pro fighter Jake Paul. Iron Mike hasn’t had a professional bout in nearly two decades, but he will step into the ring with Paul on July 20 from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Following live comedy specials, live reality shows, and live golf and tennis matches, this boxing event is the latest exploration of live programming from the world’s largest streaming service.
- Netflix’s latest live event will happen in July as Mike Tyson will face off against Jake Paul in a boxing match.
- Paul was the subject of an episode from Netflix’s sports docuseries “Untold.”
- This will be Tyson’s first professional fight since 2005.
Like with The Netflix Cup, which pitted stars from the streamer’s sports docuseries “Formula 1: Drive to Survive” and “Full Swing” against each other in a golf match in Las Vegas, this fight is also rooted in corporate synergy as the platform is home to “Untold,” a sports series that featured the episode “Jake Paul the Problem Child.” One of Paul’s early boxing matches came in 2020 against former NBA player Nate Robinson as part of the undercard for an exhibition fight between Tyson and former boxing champ in four different weight classes Roy Jones Jr. The event is being produced by Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), which was co-founded by Paul in 2021.
“Within just two and a half years of founding MVP, we’re about to produce the biggest fight in history,” Paul said, “a fight in the biggest NFL stadium in the US, broadcast live, on the biggest streaming platform in the world – a testament to all we’ve accomplished in such a short amount of time. Whether you’re tuning in on Netflix or showing out in person, whether you’re team Paul or team Tyson, or whether you’re a lifelong boxing fan or watching your first fight, you’re not going to want to miss this event.”
Tyson has the decided advantage in terms of record and experience over Paul. The Baddest Man on the Planet comes in with a career professional record of 50-6 with 44 knockouts, while Paul is just 9-1 on his career with six KOs. However, Tyson is 30 years older than his opponent. At 57, he had been a heavyweight champion for 11 years before Paul was born in 1997. Iron Mike’s last professional fight came in 2005 when he figuratively threw in the towel against Kevin McBride.
“I’m very much looking forward to stepping into the ring with Jake Paul at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas,” Tyson said. “He’s grown significantly as a boxer over the years, so it will be a lot of fun to see what the will and ambition of a ‘kid’ can do with the experience and aptitude of a GOAT. It’s a full circle moment that will be beyond thrilling to watch; as I started him off on his boxing journey on the undercard of my fight with Roy Jones and now I plan to finish him.”
Check out the promo video for Netflix’s Tyson vs. Paul Boxing Match:
It’s JAKE PAUL vs. MIKE TYSON — yes, really! — in a LIVE BOXING event at AT&T Stadium you won’t want to miss. Airing live on Netflix Saturday, July 20 #PaulTyson pic.twitter.com/ULXVeCYeH6
— Netflix (@netflix) March 7, 2024
Tickets are currently on sale for the event, and a co-main event as well as undercard matches will be announced in the future. Whatever the rest of the slate looks like, there is no doubt that when it comes to live broadcasts, Netflix appears to be focusing on creating a flywheel of content, where every new event supports and supplements programming already on the service. So don’t be surprised if the undercard features bouts between alums from “Love Is Blind” and “Is It Cake?”
“Mike Tyson is one of the biggest icons in boxing history and Jake Paul is one of the biggest disruptors in boxing history,” said Gabe Spitzer, Vice President, Nonfiction Sports, Netflix. “Saturday, July 20 will be pure drama in the ring in Texas. We are thrilled to partner with Most Valuable Promotions for this historic event and we can’t wait for these two to face off for fans all across the world on Netflix.”
Netflix
Netflix is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 3,000+ movies, 2,000+ TV Shows, and Netflix Originals like Stranger Things, Squid Game, The Crown, Tiger King, and Bridgerton. They are constantly adding new shows and movies. Some of their Academy Award-winning exclusives include Roma, Marriage Story, Mank, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.