Mike Tyson’s upcoming fight against Jake Paul might not happen if he doesn’t pass an unusual test outlined in the fight rules. The match is scheduled to take place at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on July 20.
Both Tyson and Paul want the fight to be considered a professional contest, but the final decision lies with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TLDR).
They have the authority to cancel the fight if Tyson doesn’t meet their pre-fight requirements. According to their regulations, fighters who are 38 years old or older must provide satisfactory results from electroencephalogram (EEG) and electrocardiogram (EKG) tests.
Mike Tyson, the former heavyweight world champion, will be 58 when he steps into the ring in Texas in four months. Before the fight, he’ll undergo tests to check for brain disorders with an EEG and heart problems with an EKG. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR) has the authority to request additional testing if necessary, according to Tela Mange, the TDLR communications manager.
Even if Tyson passes these tests, the fight could still be considered an exhibition, meaning Tyson and Paul would wear 16-ounce gloves instead of the usual 10-ounce gloves for professional bouts.
Additionally, rounds would be two minutes long instead of three, and there wouldn’t be official judges to score the fight, similar to Tyson’s exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr. in 2020.Tyson’s last time in the ring was for an exhibition bout, where the two-minute rounds were also introduced. His last professional fight, however, dates all the way back to 2005.
These details shed light on the unique circumstances surrounding Tyson’s upcoming fight with Jake Paul and the potential implications of it being categorized as an exhibition match rather than a professional one.
