AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Mike Tyson’s struggle in opposition to Jake Paul in Texas this summer season has been sanctioned as a aggressive boxing match quite than an exhibition, and the rounds will likely be shorter and the gloves will likely be heavier.

The Texas Division of Licensing and Regulation this week authorized phrases for the July 20 struggle at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

Netflix will present reside protection of the bout between the 27-year-old Paul, a social media star-turned-boxer, and 57-year-old Tyson, who hasn’t fought since an exhibition in opposition to Roy Jones Jr. in November 2020.

A Division of licensing and Regulation spokesperson mentioned in an electronic mail to The Related Press on Tuesday that “this will likely be an expert bout with a referee and judges and the outcomes will depend as a part of the fighters’ skilled information. So — it’s an precise aggressive struggle.”

The struggle is scheduled for eight two-minute rounds; most males’s professional fights have three-minute rounds. The boxer’s gloves will weigh 14 ounces as an alternative of the usual professional weight of 10 ounces; heavier gloves scale back the ability of punches.

In approving phrases for fights, the division’s combative sports activities workers considers, amongst different components, every contestant’s age, medical assessments, win-loss document and losses by knockout or technical knockout.

Paul constructed a big fan following as a YouTube influencer earlier than he launched into an expert boxing profession 4 years in the past. He has received 9 of 10 fights with six knockouts in opposition to largely undistinguished opponents, together with a number of combined martial artists and a fellow YouTuber.

Tyson was the undisputed world heavyweight champion from 1987-90. He retired in 2005 after profitable 50 fights, 44 by knockout.

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