Mike Tyson’s highly-anticipated boxing match against Jake Paul has been postponed after the former heavyweight champion suffered a medical emergency on a flight last weekend.
Netflix, which initially scheduled to livestream the face-off on July 20, issued a statement on May 31 saying the fight will be rescheduled because Mr. Tyson’s recent health scare has limited the 57-year-old’s ability to train for the next few weeks.
“The fight will be rescheduled for a date later this year after Mike’s able to resume training with no limitations and both fighters can have equal time to prepare for this once-in-a-lifetime matchup!” the streaming service said.
The new date of the fight will be announced by June 7, Netflix said, noting tickets already purchased will be honored on the new fight date.
People who cannot attend the rescheduled date for Paul vs. Tyson are eligible for a refund at their original point of purchase.
“Unfortunately, due to my ulcer flare-up, I have been advised by my doctor to lighten my training for a few weeks to rest and recover,” Mr. Tyson said in a statement.
“My body is in better overall shape than it has been since the 1990s and I will be back to my full training schedule soon. Jake Paul, this may have bought you some time, but in the end you will still be knocked out and out of boxing for good,” he added.
Jake Paul Is ‘Heartbroken’ Event Is Postponed
In a video on the social media platform X, Mr. Paul said he was “heartbroken” and “speechless” when he heard the fight was postponed. However, he wished his opponent well, saying he values Mr. Tyson’s health “first and foremost” and has “so much respect” for him.“My fans know I don’t want to face Iron Mike at anything but his best, but let there be no mistake—when he steps into the ring with me, I will be ready to claim my W with a sensational finish,” he said in a statement.
Mr. Tyson, who retired in 2005 after winning 50 fights, 44 by knockout, last stepped into the ring in November 2020 when he took on Roy Jones Jr. in an eight-round exhibition bout at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
The matchup was sanctioned as a professional boxing match by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations and will be contested over eight two-minute rounds with 14-ounce gloves and no headgear.
At a recent news conference in Harlem, New York, Mr. Tyson said he supports the decision to shorten rounds, saying it will result in more action in the ring.
“If we only have two minutes, we'll fight more,” he said.
Most Valuable Promotions co-founder Nakisa Bidarian told Netflix that the decision to reduce the usual three-minute length for men’s boxing matches to two-minute rounds was an effort to stay true to MVP’s belief that “the parameters of sanctioned matches should be determined by the fight (as opposed to adhering to traditional men’s vs. women’s rules).”
“MVP has championed fighter choice since its inception, including advocating for women’s boxing to be contested with two- or three-minute rounds based on the particular fight matchup,” he said. “Paul vs. Tyson and Taylor vs. Serrano 2 will both be contested with two-minute rounds, and each mega-fight will have its winner.”
