Jake Paul and Mike Tyson will finally face off in Texas today (November 15), but no matter who wins, both boxers will be handed suspensions.
The fight has been a long time coming for boxing fans, who have spent months waiting for YouTuber Paul to finally enter the ring against boxing veteran Tyson.
The pair will fight at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with the bout streamed on Netflix for viewers across the globe.
Both have talked a big game in the run-up to the event, with Paul going as far as to claim Tyson ‘must die’, while Tyson has made clear that he’s ‘not intimidated or afraid’ of Paul.
But while the question of who will come out on top is yet to be answered, one thing’s for certain: both boxers will be suspended from the ring after they finally meet.
The forced break comes through an order from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, which is overseeing the fight in Arlington.
No matter who wins, both Tyson and Paul will have to rest for at least seven days.
Additional rest days are tacked on according to the number of rounds fought, with three days handed for every round.
Jake Paul has claimed Tyson must ‘die’ when they meet (Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
With Paul and Tyson set to go eight rounds tonight, this means they could be away from the ring for a maximum of 24 days.
Even more rules come into play if either fighter loses by technical knockout, at which point they will be suspended for a minimum of 30 days. If the fight ends in a knockout, the loser will have to step back for at least 60 days.
Either Tyson or Paul could appeal a suspension, as the department regulations explain: “Medical disqualification of a contestant is for their own safety and may be made at the recommendation of the examining physician or TDLR.
“A contestant who disagrees with a medical disqualification, medical suspension or rest period set at the discretion of a ringside physician or a disqualification or suspension set by the department may request a hearing to show proof of fitness.”
Mike Tyson has made clear he’s not scared of Paul (Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
However, with so much work having gone into this particular fight, it is unlikely either Paul or Tyson would rush to return to the ring in the next two months anyway.
With only a few hours to go now until the big moment, we’ll have to wait and see whether either Tyson or Paul have to end up taking that extended time off.
How can I watch Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson?
Viewers can tune in live to watch the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson match on Netflix on November 15. Their bout is scheduled to begin at 8 pm ET, 7 pm CT, 5 pm PT, and 1 am GMT.
