Paddy Power and Tony Bellew have looked to an unusual proving ground for Jake Paul’s next opponent – following his fight with Mike Tyson this weekend.
In a clip posted on the brand’s social media platforms and YouTube channel, Bellew is shown ‘training’ a group of pensioners in different aspects of boxing, including trash-talking and social media call-outs.
In the clip, Bellew said: “I’ve been asked to scour the UK to find [Paul’s] next opponent and I think I have.
“Jake Paul is always on about fighting old lads and I was speaking to my nan the other day and she said there’s a right few hard nuts in her retirement home so I popped around to check them out.”
Paul has faced backlash for fighting older opponents. His 10-1 professional boxing record includes fights against mixed martial arts fighters such as Anderson Silva (47), Tyron Woodley (39) and Ben Askren (36) who were all significantly older than Paul when they fought him.
His latest fight, scheduled for 15 November at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, will see him taking on a 58-year-old Tyson who last fought in a heavily criticised exhibition against Roy Jones Jr in 2020.
It will be Tyson’s first professional bout since retiring on his stool against Kevin McBride in June 2005.
Is this a legitimate fight?
Despite being sanctioned by The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), the ruling body for combat sports in Texas, the fight is going to be contested over eight two-minute rounds using 14-ounce gloves, rather than three-minute rounds, and ten-ounce gloves – as used in a standard bout sanctioned by the TDLR and ABC Boxing.
These rule changes have raised questions over the legitimacy of the bout among state regulators in the US.
Last week, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) held an open meeting where commissioners discussed the event and considered the decisions of other states that have determined whether they will allow wagering on Tyson vs Paul.
It found that Pennsylvania, Vermont and Colorado have all banned betting markets on the bout, with the states taking their stance due to a “deviation from standard rules”, according to the MGC.
All three states typically allow wagering on ABC Boxing matches.
By comparison, states including Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois and Nebraska will allow wagering. Nebraska does not typically allow wagering on exhibition matches, but the state’s gaming regulator has made an exception to prevent betting with illegal sportsbooks.
After considering the positions, the MGC has decided to allow wagering on the event as it permits exhibition matches.
A Netflix first
The fight will air on Netflix, marking the streaming platform’s first foray into live boxing.
Ahead of the event, it released a docuseries that provides an inside look into the preparation for both fighters. Titled Countdown: Paul vs. Tyson, it also includes appearances from other boxers on the card.
