The world of live sports is about to get a major shakeup, thanks to the latest announcement from Netflix. The online entertainment giant is set to stream a live boxing match between former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and YouTuber-turned-fighter Jake Paul on July 20th, in what promises to be a mega-event for sports fans.
The fight
The fight is set to take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, which has a capacity of 80,000 seats and is home to the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. The event marks one of Netflix’s most ambitious forays into both sports programming and live entertainment, as the company seeks to cement its status as the premier at-home viewing destination in the United States.
The streaming giant recently reached a 10-year deal for the exclusive rights to stream World Wrestling Entertainment’s weekly flagship show, “Raw,” starting in January 2025. The headline-grabbing deal was valued at more than $5 billion, according to a company filing cited by CNBC.
The Tyson vs. Paul fight is the result of a partnership between Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions, a company co-founded by Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021 with “the mission to provide more creative control to fighters,” according to Netflix’s news release. This partnership has the potential to disrupt combat sports as we know them, giving fighters more control over their careers and the ability to earn more money.
Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson who will be 58 when the Netflix fight streams, earned a reputation as one of the most ferocious boxers and incendiary personalities in modern professional sports. He was the youngest heavyweight champion in history, at just 20 years old, and his prowess in the ring led him to a run of 37 consecutive victories — 33 of them by knockout, according to Netflix’s summary of his career.
However, Tyson’s life has also been defined by troubling behavior and legal woes. He was convicted of rape in 1992 and served three years in prison. In the ring, “Iron Mike” could be vicious, such as when he bit Evander Holyfield’s right ear during an infamous 1997 bout.
On the other hand, Paul, 27, got his start as an early internet influencer, posting popular videos on the defunct platform Vine and cultivating a large following on YouTube. He pivoted to boxing in 2018 and turned pro in 2020, and he now has a 9-1 record that includes six knockouts. His last fight was on Saturday night, when he stopped Ryan Bourland in the first round.
“It’s crazy to think that in my second pro fight, I went viral for knocking out Nate Robinson on Mike Tyson’s undercard,” Paul said in a statement. “Now, less than four years later, I’m stepping up to face Tyson myself to see if I have what it takes to beat one of boxing’s most notorious fights and biggest icons.”
The Tyson vs. Paul match promises to be one of the most talked-about sports events of the year, as two very different fighters go head-to-head in the ring. Whether you’re a long-time boxing fan or just looking for a thrilling sporting event to watch, the Netflix stream is sure to be one of the most exciting events of the summer.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavyweight
