NEW YORK (Sept. 4, 2025) – Two of the most prominent and popular boxers of all time are preparing to square off in what will be one of the most significant and compelling boxing events in history, coming in Spring 2026. Mike Tyson, the beloved heavyweight world champion, iconic entertainer and entrepreneur, and Floyd Money Mayweather, a man associated with modern boxing dominance and a remarkable undefeated record of 50-0, have signed with CSI SPORTS™/FIGHT SPORTS® to deliver the mega-event globally on a date and from a location to be determined.

“When CSI came to me about stepping in the ring with Floyd Mayweather,” said Tyson. “I thought, ‘No way this happens,’ but, Floyd said yes.

“This fight is something neither the world nor I ever thought would or could happen. However, boxing has entered a new era of the unpredictable—and this fight is as unpredictable as it gets.

“I still can’t believe Floyd wants to really do this. It’s going to be detrimental to his health, but he wants to do it, so it’s signed and it’s happening!”

“I’ve been doing this for 30 years and there hasn’t been a single fighter that can tarnish my legacy,” said Mayweather. “You already know that if I am going to do something, it’s going to be big and it’s going to be legendary. I’m the best in the business of boxing. This exhibition will give the fans what they want.” 

CSI SPORTS™ and FIGHT SPORTS® co-founders, brothers Richard and Craig Miele, will produce a multi-platform, global broadcast befitting the legendary fighters and this historic event. CSI SPORTS™, which earlier today announced that renowned sports television executives John Skipper (ESPN, DAZN, Meadowlark Media), Mark Taffet (HBO PPV), Brian Robinson (American Idol Productions) and Chris DeBlasio (Showtime Networks) joined its leadership team, will soon announce a multi-event global media streaming and broadcast partnership that will launch with this event.

“Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather are two of the most compelling names and personalities with lasting legacies in all of sports. They are 21^st century icons,” said Richard and Craig Miele. “Tyson vs. Mayweather will break every broadcast, streaming and economic record set by Mike Tyson in 2024. We are planning a robust promotional campaign complete with weekly premium storytelling and worldwide marketing reach. The event itself will be in a world-class venue and be presented to a global audience with new in-ring technology elements that will reshape how boxing is presented, and scoring is achieved for years to come.”

Tyson, who retired from professional boxing with 50 wins, 44 by knockout, is one of the world’s most recognized figures and, perhaps, one of the most beloved in all of sports. Known for his explosive power and intimidating presence in his prime, Tyson’s second career has been marked by his ability to compel and entertain audiences through a variety of mediums. He was the youngest heavyweight world champion in history, hailing from Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York. Today, he is driven to cap his legacy in the ring and move ahead as the sport’s premier ambassador.

Mayweather, known for his impeccable defensive skills, speed and strategic ring generalship, has expertly managed a remarkable career. He is the highest grossing professional boxer—and one of the highest grossing athletes—in history. His career timeline is marked with numerous high-profile fights and extremely lucrative paydays, including the three richest boxing events in history (vs. Manny Pacquiao, vs. Conor McGregor and vs. Canelo Alvarez, respectively). He is a boxing legend and has remained a prominent figure in the sport even after his official retirement with his unmatched and unprecedented record of 50 wins, no losses.

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ABOUT CSI SPORTS™

Richard and Craig Miele founded CSI SPORTS™ in 1997 and have grown from creating, producing and distributing live championship boxing events in the U.S., into a leading global multimedia business controlling rights to boxing’s biggest global events including the highest grossing pay-per-view events of all time. In 2012, CSI SPORTS launched FIGHT SPORTS®, the fastest growing 24/7 sports network worldwide. CSI SPORTS™ controls global rights to HBO World Championship Boxing events and is also the exclusive owner of the iconic USA Tuesday Night Fights® series, acquired from Comcast/NBC Universal and including thousands of hours of content featuring boxing legends Floyd Mayweather, Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya, and many more.

The FIGHT SPORTS® network reaches over 190 countries with U.S. distribution through the FIGHT SPORTS® branded block in over 80M households. The FIGHT SPORTS® linear channel currently reaches 60+ countries globally. Over the past two decades, CSI SPORTS’ rights to the biggest pay-per-view events in history including Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, Mayweather vs. De La Hoya, Tyson vs. Lewis, and many others that have generated billions of dollars in PPV revenue.

In 2026, CSI SPORTS will debut new technology set to revolutionize and forever enhance the sport and the viewing experience for audiences worldwide.

Following the wide circulation of incorrect and baseless claims that undermine the integrity of the Paul vs. Tyson event, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) would like to set the record straight regarding the contractual agreements and the nature of the fight.

Rigging a professional boxing match is a federal crime in the United States of America. Paul vs. Tyson was a professional match sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR). Both fighters in good faith performed to the best of their abilities with the goal of winning the fight. There were absolutely no restrictions – contractual or otherwise – around either fighter. Each boxer was able to use his full arsenal to win the fight. Any agreement to the contrary would violate TDLR boxing rules.

Trash talk and speculation are common in sports, and athletes and promoters need to tolerate nonsensical commentary, jokes and opinions. But suggesting anything other than full effort from these fighters is not only naïve but an insult to the work they put into their craft and to the sport itself.

It is further illogical and inane that MVP, in the debut of a hopeful long-term partnership with the world’s biggest streamer—an organization that made its first-ever foray into live professional sports with Paul vs. Tyson—would even so much as consider such a perverse violation of the rules of competition.

“This is not the first time Jake Paul has faced unfounded skepticism or outright disbelief as a professional athlete, and frankly, the claim that his bout must have been rigged is just the latest backhanded compliment to come his way,” said Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions. “From day one in this sport, people have doubted his abilities—unable to reconcile how someone with his background has accomplished so much in such a short time. Jake has not only proven himself repeatedly, but he has continuously set historic records that speak for themselves. This event, which broke attendance and viewership milestones for a professional sporting event, is yet another example of his ability to deliver on the biggest stage. As long as Jake continues to exceed expectations, there will always be those who try to discredit his achievements. We embrace the doubt—it only fuels Jake to work harder and achieve greater success.” 

Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) has today announced that the historic heavyweight boxing mega-event featuring The Problem Child, Jake “El Gallo” Paul (11-1, 7 KOs) vs. The Baddest Man on the Planet “Iron” Mike Tyson (50-7, 44 KOs) at AT&T Stadium has officially become the highest-grossing combat sports gate outside of Las Vegas in US history. Paul vs. Tyson and Taylor vs. Serrano 2 gate revenue officially earned $18,117,072 with an average ticket price of $304, more than double the previous $9M state combat sports gate record in the state of Texas set by Canelo Álvarez vs. Billy Joe Saunders in 2021. Since headlining his first fight, Jake Paul has broken gate records at every arena he’s fought at during his professional career, and now Paul vs. Tyson is the biggest combat sports gate outside of Las Vegas in US history in terms of revenue with over 72,300 fans in attendance and the highest earning gate at AT&T Stadium for a combat sports event. For a complete overview of AT&T Stadium’s top combat sports gate history, please refer to the attached document. 

With over 65 million households tuning in, Paul vs Tyson shattered streaming records, becoming the most streamed sporting event in US history. The co-main event of Paul vs. Tyson featured undisputed super lightweight champion Katie Taylor (24-1, 6 KOs) vs. unified featherweight champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (47-3-1, 31 KOs) in the most anticipated women’s boxing rematch in history. With over 50 million households tuning in for the Taylor vs Serrano fight, it became the most-watched women’s sporting event in US history.

Most Valuable Promotion provided over 4,500 complimentary tickets to regional veterans and active military groups, local students and youth boxing gyms. Service organizations represented in attendance at Paul vs. Tyson included the USO, USAA and Boeing Merging Vets & Players program, Black Rifle Coffee Company’s Rise & Grind Veterans Workout community, NRS JAB Ft. Worth, the Junior ROTC Anthem Flag Game Day Flag Holders, American Airlines Title Game Veterans Groups, and the National Medal of Honor Museum. 

Most Valuable Promotions and Elevate also sold out of VIP Seating which in total, accounted for 375 VIP Hospitality seats. More than 30% of VIP buyers were from the state of Texas; with international purchasers represented from United Arab Emirates, Spain, Brazil, Ireland, Isle of Man, Istanbul, Canada, and England.

“Paul vs. Tyson and Taylor vs. Serrano 2 rewrote the record books, solidifying Most Valuable Promotions as a trailblazer in combat sports,” said Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions. “From setting the highest gate outside of Las Vegas in U.S. history for a combat sports event to becoming the most streamed sporting event in U.S. history, this event is a testament to the global impact of Jake Paul, Mike Tyson, Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano, and the incredible athletes on this card. We’re proud to have partnered with Netflix to deliver an event that brought fans together worldwide and broke many records. The UFC, which I believe to be the greatest combat sports organization of all time, has been in business for 30+ years and they have never put on an event of this magnitude. We established MVP three years ago and are just getting started. This is what it means to push the boundaries of what’s possible in sports entertainment. Congratulations and thank you to our team and our fans.”

The 3 fight preliminary card of Paul vs. Tyson, which streamed live on Most Valuable Promotions’ YouTube, Netflix Sports YouTube, and Tudum also had massive streaming numbers. On MVP’s YouTube the prelims had 4.8M views, 3M unique viewers, with peak concurrent viewership of 425,000. Netflix Sports YouTube and Tudum saw 5.4M views on the preliminary card.

About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

Most Valuable Promotions was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its own events and talent partners. Since inception MVP has consistently produced the biggest combat sports pay-per-view events. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. The company signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano in its first year. Serrano and MVP made history in April of 2022 when Serrano went head to head with Katie Taylor, marking the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden, recently earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which is the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

Follow all the action as Jake Paul and Mike Tyson fight in a much anticipated fight from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Action Kicks off at 8 PM ET and will feature the WBC Welterweight fight between Mario Barrios and Abel Ramos. Also one of the most anticipated rematches as Katie Taylor defends the Undisputed Super Lightweight title against Amanda Serrano.

THE PAGE WILL UPDATE AUTOMATICALLY AFTER EACH ROUND. NO BROWSER REFRESH NEEDED

Round 1: Jab from Tyson drives Paul back…Right from Paul…Jab..
Round 2 Body shot from Paul…
Round 3 3 lefts from Paul..
Round 4 Right from Paul…Left Hook…
Round 5 1-2 from Paul…Left hook..Body shot…Right…Lead left from Tyson
Round 6 
Round 7 Jab from Paul…Right to body…3 punch combination
Round 8 Right from Paul..

80-72, 79-3 TWICE FOR PAUL

ROUND 1 Serrano lands a left..Combinatuon Taylor…Left from Serrano…Left…Left buckles Taylor

ROUND 2 Nice right from Taylor…Combination…Good Hook…

ROUND 3 Left from Serrano

ROUND 4 Hard left from Serrano…Serrano bleeding over right eye from a headbutt

ROUND 5 Counter left from Serrano…Lead Left…

ROUND 6 Another bad cut over Serrano’s left eye…Taylor lands a right…

ROUND 7 Great action in center of the ring.  Right from Taylor…Left…Right from Serrano,,

ROUND 8 Left hook from Serrano…Left from Taylor..Just a war..TAYLOR DEDUCYED A POINT FOR USING HER HEAD

ROUND 9 Goof right from Taylor.  Good body shot from Serrano

ROUND 10 A REAL WAR…BOTH JUST THROWING AND LANDING…Good body shot from Serrano

95-94 ON ALL CARDS FOR KATIE TAYLOR

Round 1: Right from Barrios..

ROUND 2 Nice right to the body from Barrios…Body shot from Ramos…Nice hook…Body shot from Barrios and a right to the head..Jab to the body…lead right crosss…Body shot from Ramos…Counter left…COUNTER SHOT AND DOWN GOES RAMOS

ROUND 3 Double left and right from Barrios…3 punch combination from Ramos…Lead left to the jaw

ROUND 4 Good jab from Barrios…Good right..

ROUND 5 

ROUND 6 Double body shot from Barrios..Right..BIG RIGHT AND DOWN GOES BARRIOS…Big Right…Barrios is hurt..Right…Another big Right 

ROUND 7 Right to head from Ramos…Left hook..Good uppercut from Barrios…Lead left hook. Lead left hook from Ramos…Left to body from Barrios..Right from Ramos..Combination from Barriois…1-2 from Ramos…Jab from Barrios

ROUND 8 Jab from Barrios..Good body shot from Ramos..Combination…

ROUND 9 Body shot from Barrios..Jab from Ramos…Counter jab from Barrios..Nice jab..Nice left hook and right from Ramios..Double left…Barrios bleeding from the nose..Body shot from Ramos..Combination from Barrios..Double jab…Left fhook from Ramos

ROUND 10 Right from Barrios…Good right from Ramos

ROUND 11 Right from Ramos…Ramos cut under his left eye…

ROUND 12 Lead left hook from Ramos…Good right///Nice jab from Barrios..Lead right from Ramos…Left hook from Barrios…Good body shot…Jab…

114-112 Ramos, 116-110 Barrios, 113-113 DRAW

Round 1 Combination from Goyat…Uppercut
Round 2 Right from Goyat…Combination
Round 3 Left hook from Nunes…Left hook and right from Goyat…Double left hook to live by Nunes..
Round 4 Good right from Goyat…Uppercuts on inside…Right…Body shot from Nunes…4 punches to the head..
Round 5 Nunes lands a combo to the head…Combination to the head from Goyat…Nice left from Nunes..Uooercut on inside and right from Goyat…Combination…Left hook to body from Nunes
Round 6 Goyat lands a big right…Clipping right…

60-54 TWICE AND 59-55 FOR GOYAT

In a much hyped event, Jake Paul won a unanimous decision over 58-year-old former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in front of a massive crowd of over 70,000 fans at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The fight was void of any sustained action. Tyson looked every bit of a fighter who was 58 years old and 19 years removed of any professional action. Paul was able to and move around the ring and he occasionally mixed in a right hand that would drive the ex-champ back. There were several instances where it looked like Tyson was through for the fight, but he was able to manage be around for the final bell.

Paul landed 78 of 278 punches. Tyson was just 19 of 97.

Paul of Cleveland won by scores of 80-72 twice and 79-73 twice to raise his record to 11-1. Tyson of Brooklyn is 50-7.

Katie Taylor Defeats Amanda Serrano Again to Retain Undisputed Super Lightweight Title

In a rematch that lived up to the exceptional predecessor, Katie Taylor retained the undisputed super lightweight title with a razor thin unanimous decision over Amanda Serrano.

Serrano got off to a fast start and buckled Taylor at the end of the first round. In round four, Serrano was cut over her right eye from a headbutt.

In round six, Serrano suffered another bad cut from a headbutt. In round eight, Taylor was deducted a point for the headbutts. Much of the last three rounds were fought in the center of the ring with each fighter throwing and landing much to delight to the crowd.

Taylor landed 217 of 529 punches. Serrano 324 of 734.

Taylor, 137.4 lbs of Bray, IRE won by scores of 95-94 on all cards and is now 24-1. Serrano, 137.4 lbs of Carolina, PR is 47-3-1.

Barrios and Ramos Battle to a Draw

Mario Barrios retained his WBC Welterweight title as he battled Abel Ramos to a 12-round split draw.

In round two, Barrios landed a left hook to the chin that was followed by a straight right that sent Ramos on his back. In round six, Ramos got it back when he landed a powerful right to the jaw that put Barrios down.

In round nine, Barrios began to bleed from the nose. In round 11, Ramos was cut under his left eye.

Barrios landed 29 of 789 punches. Ramos was 204 of 753.

Ramos took a scorecard 116-110, Ramos 114-112 and 113-113.

Barrios, 146.8 lbs of San Antonio is now 29-2-1. Ramos, 146.4 lbs of Casa Grande, AZ is 26-6-3.

Neeraj Goyat Decisions Whindersson Nunes

Neeraj Goyat won a six-round unanimous decision over Brazilian Social Media star Whindersson Nunes in a middleweight fight.

Goyat landed 171 of 481 punches. Nunes was 87 of 365.

Goyat, 162 lbs of India won by scores of 60-54 twice and 59-55 and is now 19-4-2. Nunes, 164 lbs of Brazil is 0-1.

Shadasia Green Wins Super Middleweight Title with Split Decision over Watpool

Shadasia Green won the WBO Super Middleweight title with a 10-round split decision over Melinda Watpool.

Green landed 93 of 346 punches. Watpool was 111 of 409.

Green, 167.8 lbs of Paterson, NJ won by scores of 97-93 and 96-94 while Watpool took a card 96-94. Green is now 15-1. Watpool, 166.8 lbs of Toronto is 7-1.

Bahdi defeats Casamonica via Majority Decision

In a battle of undefeated lightweights, Lucas Bahdi won a 10-round majority decision over Armando Casamonica.

Bahdi landed 124 of 641 punches. Cassamonica was 113 of 577.

Bahdi, 134.6 lbs of Niagara Falls, CAN won by scores of 98-92, 96-93 and 95-95 and is now 18-0. Casamonica, 135.6 lbs of Rome, ITA is 7-1.

Carrington Decisions Coolwell

Bruce Carrington remained undefeated with a eight-round unanimous decision over Dana Coolwell in a featherweight bout.

Carrington scored a knockdown in round eight from a flurry that was started by a left hook.

Carrington landed 237 of 521 punches. Coolwell was 82 of 544.

Carrington,125.8 lbs of Brooklyn, NY won by scores of 80-70 on all cards and is now 14-0. Coolwell, 125.2 lbs of Queensland, AUS is 13-3.

Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced that the highly-anticipated heavyweight boxing mega-event featuring The Problem Child, Jake “El Gallo” Paul (10-1, 7 KOs) vs. The Baddest Man on the Planet “Iron” Mike Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) at AT&T Stadium has become the highest-grossing combat sports gate in Texas history. Paul vs. Tyson and Taylor vs. Serrano 2 gate revenue has surpassed $17.8 million, almost double the previous $9M state combat sports gate record set by Canelo Álvarez vs. Billy Joe Saunders in 2021. Since headlining his first fight, Jake Paul has broken gate records at every arena he’s fought at during his professional career, and now Paul vs. Tyson is the biggest boxing gate outside of Las Vegas in US history in terms of revenue. The Paul vs. Tyson gate is also higher than any non-Las Vegas UFC gate in history, aside from Alvarez vs. McGregor in New York City.

With over 70,000 fans expected in attendance. The co-main event of Paul vs. Tyson features undisputed super lightweight champion Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs) vs. unified featherweight champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (47-2-1, 31 KOs) in the most anticipated women’s boxing rematch in history. Paul vs. Tyson and Taylor vs. Serrano 2 will air live globally on Netflix on Friday, November 15, 2024, at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. 

Most Valuable Promotion has also provided over 4,500 complimentary tickets to regional veterans and active military groups, local students and youth boxing gyms. Service organizations represented in attendance at Paul vs. Tyson will include the USO, USAA and Boeing Merging Vets & Players program, Black Rifle Coffee Company’s Rise & Grind Veterans Workout community, NRS JAB Ft. Worth, the Junior ROTC Anthem Flag Game Day Flag Holders, American Airlines Title Game Veterans Groups, and the National Medal of Honor Museum. 

Most Valuable Promotions and Elevate have also announced today that VIP Seating to the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson bout has officially sold out, which in total, accounts for 375 VIP Hospitality seats. In the past 10 days leading up to the fight, Most Valuable Promotions and Elevate sold through the final 40% of Premium Hospitality inventory. More than 30% of VIP buyers are from the state of Texas; with international purchasers represented from United Arab Emirates, Spain, Brazil, Ireland, Isle of Man, Istanbul, Canada, and England.

“Breaking records like this is exactly what MVP was built to do—bring the biggest, most electrifying events to fans worldwide,” said Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions. “Jake Paul, Amanda Serrano and MVP are redefining what’s possible in combat sports, and we’re thrilled to partner with Netflix to make history at AT&T Stadium. This is just the beginning for MVP as we continue to raise the bar in delivering unforgettable moments in the ring. Congratulations to Jake Paul, Mike Tyson, Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano and the rest of this amazing card. Every athlete deserves recognition for this historic night. We are also proud to have over 2,000 servicemen and women at Paul vs. Tyson tonight and are honored to give back to our service members by ensuring their presence at this historic event.” 

The live broadcast will be available on Netflix to all subscribers at no additional cost, featuring commentary in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, and German.

Featured on the main card, which begins with the start of the live Netflix broadcast at 8pm ET / 5pm PT, will be (in air order):

• Neeraj Goyat vs. Whindersson Nunes (6 three-minute rounds)
• Mario Barrios vs. Abel Ramos (WBC welterweight world title) (12 three-minute rounds)
• Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 2 (Undisputed super lightweight world title) (10, two-minute rounds)
• Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson (8, two-minute rounds)

The preliminary card of Paul vs. Tyson will begin at 5:30pm ET / 2:30pm PT at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and will stream live on Most Valuable Promotions’ YouTube, Netflix Sports YouTube, and Tudum. 

Featured on the preliminary card will be (in air order):

• Shu Shu Carrington Jr. vs. Dana Coolwell
• Lucas Bahdi vs. Armando Casamonica
• Shadasia Green vs. Melinda Watpool (WBO super middleweight world title)

Media may CLICK HERE for previously released renderings depicting elements from the MVP Owner’s Experience package; courtesy of MVP and Elevate.

For more information on Paul vs. Tyson visit Tudum.com/PaulvsTyson. Those who do not have a Netflix account can visit netflix.com/signup.

About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

Most Valuable Promotions was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its own events and talent partners. Since inception MVP has consistently produced the biggest combat sports pay-per-view events. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. The company signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano in its first year. Serrano and MVP made history in April of 2022 when Serrano went head to head with Katie Taylor, marking the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden, recently earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which is the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

By Norm Frauenheim –

Mike Tyson has been making a fool out of himself and just about everybody around him for decades. Maybe, he’ll do it again, making a fool out of Jake Paul and the rest of us who believe he shouldn’t be in a traditional boxing ring against anybody anywhere.

Any more.

But, of course, he will be Friday night on the Cowboys home field in Texas in front of an expected crowd of 80,000 and who-knows-how-many from Netflix’s subscriber population of 287.2 million, millions more than the nearly 150 million who voted in the recent presidential election. 

Don’t call it a fight, although the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation elected to do so, but only after adding four ounces to the usual 10-ounce gloves while reducing the number of scheduled rounds from 10 to eight and subtracting a minute from each round, from three to two.

Texas, like Netflix, knows a money-maker when it sees one. In this transactional era, traditional rules and regs are just some of the numbers that can be adjusted if the projected financials are big enough. They are. 

Reportedly, Paul will walk away with $40-million, a purse that might make the accomplished Canelo Alvarez — the only traditional boxer left among the wealthy athletes near the top of Forbes’ annual rating — wonder if he’s in the wrong game.

But Tyson-Paul isn’t about boxing, although boxing surely wishes it was. Does anybody in the Tyson-Paul audience plan to watch the Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury heavyweight rematch next month? Guess here: Very few. Truth is, very few probably even know it’s happening.

Usyk-Fury is a real fight. It’s intriguing, but only for a shrinking demographic that still enjoys a craft historically defined as The Sweet Science. Nothing about the 58-year-old Tyson versus a 27-year-old Paul figures to be sweet or scientific.

It’s spectacle, a Tyson speciality. It also happens to be the only thing about Tyson that hasn’t eroded over the decades. He’s feared for his punching power, and perhaps some of that is still there. It’s the last thing to go. 

But the real power, the most durable element in Tyson’s skillset — is his ongoing ability to create the kind of anticipation that precedes a spectacle and sometimes an accident. A crowd will gather for both. 

Tyson’s career as an active fighter is remembered more for what happened in defeat than victory. The infamous Bite Fight — Evander Holyfield lost part of his ear and won the fight in a DQ — defines him. It shut down the MGM Grand and the city of Las Vegas on a hot night in June 1997. 

Cabbies still driving Vegas streets tell stories about it to this day. Meanwhile, Holyfield, one of history’s great heavyweight champions, occupied an almost forgotten role in one of boxing’s most unforgettable moments, infamous because of Tyson and the genuine unpredictability he brings to any event.

Then.

And now.

Twenty-seven years later, that unpredictability is still centered around Tyson. He’ll be 60 in a couple of years. Texas regulators and Netflix can alter the length of rounds and the amount of padding in the gloves. It can tamper with a lot of the numbers. But not that one. 

Father Time doesn’t negotiate. 

On the scale Thursday, Tyson, reported to be at 233 pounds, looked good, especially for a man moving from middle age into old age. Some of the photos posted on social media included one word: SCARY.

Yeah, scary for him.

I’ve been asked to pick the fight. The sure winner, of course, is Netflix. But there’s another pick, really more of a hope. Here’s hoping Tyson emerges unhurt. Guess is, he will. For all of his trash-talk, Paul, reported to be at 220 pounds, is smart enough to know that his fellow Millennials in the crowd and audience are cheering for Tyson. 

They remember him like kids remember their favorite comic-book SuperHeros. They never get old. But Tyson has. 

Father Time beats us all, perhaps because of an unforeseen injury or just because of exhaustion, or an erosion in reflexes, or some problematic pre-condition. Remember, this fight was postponed in May because of an ulcer, which Tyson said was bleeding. Tyson told New York Magazine that he was spitting up blood. He was quoted as saying: “I said to the doctor: ‘Am I going to die?’ ‘’

Scary.

A hint at what might happen, perhaps, comes from his greatest rival, Holyfield. 

Twenty-four years after The Bite Fight, a 58-year-old Holyfield lost to a mix-martial-arts fighter, Vitor Belfort, who agreed to do an exhibition just eight days before the show in 2021. 

Within two minutes of opening bell, Holyfield went down, falling to the canvas in a chaotic crash of uncoordinated legs and limbs. Holyfield got up, but without any of the instinctive reflexes he possessed a couple of decades earlier. They were gone, washed away by the years. He was finished at 1:49 of the first round. It was sad, yet inevitable.

Then. 

And probably now.

Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced that Italy’s Armando Casamonica (14-0, 3 KOs) has joined the preliminary card of the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and Serrano vs. Taylor 2 mega-event on Friday, November 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Casamonica will go head-to-head in a 10-round lightweight bout with Canada’s Lucas “Prince” Bahdi (17-0, 15 KOs), a top lightweight contender who also boasts Italian heritage. Casamonica steps in after Corey Marksman was forced to withdraw with an injury. The preliminary card of Paul vs. Tyson begins at 5:30pm ET / 4:30pm CT and will stream live on Most Valuable Promotions’ YouTube and Netflix Sports YouTube. You can also see more on fight night at Tudum. Paul vs. Tyson and Taylor vs. Serrano 2 will air live globally on Netflix on Friday, November 15 at 5pm PT / 8pm ET and is anticipated to be the biggest boxing event in modern history. Fans can purchase tickets now at seatgeek.com.

Born into the Casamonica Clan, the most feared family in Rome and throughout the Lazio region, Armando has decided to pursue his family’s legacy of dynasty through violence in the boxing ring. With generations of family history to study, Armando has learned the techniques and methods of the Casamonica Clan and translated that into the art of boxing. Hitting, dodging and dancing are the arts that he has learned but his street smarts and lethal killer instinct are inherited. Armando became the new Italian super lightweight champion in May of 2024, and won his first title defense in October bringing his professional record to 14-0. In Casamonica tradition, it will be the first of many assets he will seek to acquire and control at all costs. 

“It’s an immense honor to represent my family and our legacy on the biggest stage in boxing,” said Armando Casamonica. “Boxers dream of nights like this—fighting under the lights at AT&T Stadium, in front of millions of fans around the world, including my fans at home in Italy, on Netflix. Thank you to MVP for this opportunity, I’m bringing everything I’ve got to this fight, and Lucas Bahdi better be ready because history meets destiny on Friday, November 15th.”

Lucas “Prince” Bahdi (17-0, 15 KOs) comes to the ring by way of Niagara Falls, Ontario. The 30-year-old top contender, who is also half Italian, has gone undefeated since making his professional debut in mid-2019, winning his first 11 fights by knockout. Bahdi had unanimous decision wins against Diego Fabian Eligio and Diego Andrade Chavez in 2022 before resuming his knockout streak. In May 2023, Bahdi defeated Jesus Amparan to claim the IBF North American Lightweight title. Bahdi is a top-ranked lightweight by both the IBF and WBA and most recently, proved himself among the best title contenders in the lightweight division when he scored a knockout of the year contender win over H2O Sylve on the main card of Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry in July 2024. 

“Undefeated fighters always fight hard to protect their records and I expect that Armando Casamonica will do that, but I’m also undefeated and will fight even harder than him,” said Lucas Bahdi. “ I can’t wait to put on a show on Friday, November 15.”

“This is exactly the kind of matchup that represents MVP’s vision— global fighters with extraordinary skills and stories that inspire,” said Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of MVP. “Armando Casamonica brings not only talent but also a powerful connection to his heritage that will resonate with fans across Italy and beyond. And with Lucas Bahdi, we have a fighter who is ready to reign in his weight class. It’s a clash of cultures, pride, and raw talent that is going to light up the night.”

The Paul vs. Tyson main event will feature the 8-round heavyweight battle between international superstar Jake “El Gallo” Paul (10-1, 7 KOs) vs. The Baddest Man on the Planet Mike Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs). In the co-main event, undisputed super lightweight champion Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs) will put all her super lightweight belts on the line against boxing trailblazer and unified featherweight champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (47-2-1, 31 KOs) in a 10-round women’s championship fight, the most anticipated women’s boxing rematch in history. Also on the main card will be the 12-round men’s championship fight for the WBC welterweight title between reigning champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios (29-2, 18 KOs) vs. Abel Ramos (28-6-2, 22 KOs) and a 6-round super middleweight fight between India’s number one boxer and MVP’s first international signee Neeraj Goyat (18-4-2, 8 KOs) vs. Brazil’s multi-talented superstar Whindersson Nunes (2-2-1, 1 KO combined boxing record). Headlining the preliminary card will be MVP’s super middleweight powerhouse and the WBO’s #1 contender Shadasia “The Sweet Terminator” Green (14-1, 11 KOs) vs. the WBO’s #2 contender Melinda “The Whip” Watpool (7-0, 2 KO) in a 10 round women’s championship fight contested at 168 lbs for the vacant WBO super middleweight world title. Joining Green and Watpool on the preliminary card, will be an 8 round featherweight fight between two standout prospects, Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington Jr. (13-0, 8 KOs) and Australian action fighter Dana “Deadly” Coolwell (13-2, 8 KOs). 

About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

Most Valuable Promotions was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its own events and talent partners. Since inception, MVP has consistently produced the biggest combat sports pay-per-view events. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. The company signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano, in its first year. Serrano and MVP made history in April of 2022 when Serrano went head to head with Katie Taylor, marking the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden, recently earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which is the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

About AT&T Stadium

AT&T Stadium is the largest, most technologically advanced entertainment venue in the world. Designed by HKS and built by Manhattan Construction, the $1.2 billion stadium features two monumental arches, the world’s largest HDTV video board cluster, an expansive retractable roof and the largest retractable end zone doors in the world. Features of the stadium include seating for 80,000 and expandability for up to 100,000, over 300 luxury suites, club seating on multiple levels, and the Dallas Cowboys Pro Shop, open to the public year-round. Outside the stadium, the Miller Lite® House is a branded destination that boasts a 70-yard Cowboys turf field featuring field games, four video boards, and over 60 television screens, two fantasy football screen walls, and over 87,000 outdoor square footage for event day experiences. The space also features two beer gardens and a walk-in beer cooler. The stadium is also home to a world-class collection of contemporary art, made up of over 92 works of art by 62 established and emerging artists displayed on the walls and in the grand public spaces of the venue. In addition to being the home of the Dallas Cowboys since opening in 2009, the stadium has hosted Super Bowl XLV, the 2010 NBA All Star Game, the annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, the 2014 NCAA Men’s Final Four, the 2015 inaugural College Football Playoff Championship Game, the 2015 50th Anniversary Academy of Country Music Awards show, and WrestleMania 32 & 38. The venue has also played host to high school and college football, concerts, championship fights, international soccer matches, and other special events. For more information, go to attstadium.com.

LAS VEGAS, NV (October 30, 2024) – WBC Welterweight World Champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios (29-2, 18 KOs) from San Antonio, TX, hosted a media workout in Las Vegas ahead of his highly anticipated clash with Abel Ramos (28-6-2, 22 KOs) from Phoenix, AZ. The two Mexican warriors are set to face off for welterweight supremacy in a 12-round world title bout on the undercard of Most Valuable Promotions’ blockbuster event featuring Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and Serrano vs. Taylor 2.

The event takes place on Friday, November 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and will be streamed live globally on Netflix, starting at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Tickets for the live event start at $37 and are available on seatgeek.com.

Here is what Barrios had to say about his upcoming matchup with Ramos, his recent training camp, fighting on Netflix in his home state of Texas, and more.

“Defending my world title is a huge honor, and I know Abel Ramos is a tough opponent who always comes to fight. He’s experienced and dangerous, so I’m expecting a hard-fought battle. But I’m ready to show why I’m the champion and why this belt is staying with me.”

“Training camp has been intense but great. We’ve been putting in a lot of hard work in Las Vegas, focusing on every detail to make sure I’m ready for anything Ramos brings. I feel strong, sharp, and more motivated than ever to put on a great performance.”

“It’s incredible to be a part of this historic event with Netflix streaming the fights. Boxing is reaching a whole new audience, and being on this platform alongside legends like Mike Tyson and major names like Jake Paul and Amanda Serrano is a huge opportunity. I’m excited to showcase my skills to fans all around the world.”

“Fighting in Texas is always special for me. I’m a proud San Antonio native, and every time I fight here, I feel that extra support and energy from the crowd. Texas has some of the best boxing fans in the world, and it’s an honor to be defending my title in front of them.”

“Fans can expect me to leave it all in the ring. I’ve been training to make a statement, and I’m going to give everything I have to keep this belt. Whether you’re watching live in AT&T Stadium or streaming on Netflix, you’re going to see an exciting fight and a champion determined to come out on top.”

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About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

Most Valuable Promotions was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its own events and talent partners. Since inception MVP has consistently produced the biggest combat sports pay-per-view events. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. The company signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano in its first year. Serrano and MVP made history in April of 2022 when Serrano went head to head with Katie Taylor, marking the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden, recently earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which is the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced the three bout preliminary card of the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and Serrano vs. Taylor 2 mega-event on Friday, November 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Headlining the preliminary card will be MVP’s super middleweight powerhouse and the WBO’s #1 contender Shadasia “The Sweet Terminator” Green (14-1, 11 KOs) vs. the WBO’s #2 contender Melinda “The Whip” Watpool (7-0, 2 KO) in a 10 round women’s championship fight contested at 168 lbs for the vacant WBO super middleweight world title. Joining Green and Watpool on the preliminary card, top-ranked IBF and WBA contender Lucas “Prince” Bahdi (17-0, 15 KOs) will take on Orlando, Florida’s Corey “2Smoove” Marksman (10-0-1, 7 KOs) in a 10 round lightweight battle of two of boxing’s undefeated contenders as each puts their undefeated record on the line early in their career. Also on the preliminary card will be an 8 round featherweight fight between two standout prospects, Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington Jr. (13-0, 8 KOs) and Australian action fighter Dana “Deadly” Coolwell (13-2, 8 KOs). Paul vs. Tyson and Taylor vs. Serrano 2 will air live globally on Netflix on Friday, November 15 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT and is anticipated to be the biggest boxing event in modern history, and fans can purchase tickets now at seatgeek.com.

Making her second world title fight appearance in the headlining bout of the Paul vs. Tyson preliminary card will be MVP’s super middleweight powerhouse Shadasia “The Sweet Terminator” Green (14-1, 11 KOs). Green, the former standout college basketball star and Team USA boxing silver medalist, joined MVP in January 2023 after a trailblazing start to her professional career. Shortly after, Green defeated the former unified world champion Elin Cederroos with a vicious sixth-round TKO, marking the first and only time Cederroos was ever stopped in her career. Green’s bout against Olivia Curry in August 2023 led to a resounding unanimous decision victory as part of the Paul-Diaz undercard. Green rose to #1 ranking in the WBC, WBO, WBA, and IBF ahead of her women’s championship fight against former undisputed and now-WBC super middleweight champion Franchon-Crews Dezurn for the WBC world and WBA Interim titles. The bout resulted in a disappointing decision loss for Green, who returned to the ring in July 2024 to prove her status as a title contender, earning a unanimous decision win over Canada’s Natasha Spence. Following her win, the Patterson, NJ native Green is once again the WBO’s #1 contender at super middleweight.

Facing Green for the WBO super middleweight title will be Canada’s Melinda ‘The Whip’ Watpool (7-0, 2 KO). Ranked the WBO’s #2 super middleweight contender and WBA’s #1 middleweight contender, Watpool most recently had a decisive win over Natasha Spence to claim the WBA International Middleweight Championship in September 2024, and now will step up to face Green for the WBO super middleweight title. Watpool, the former five-time Canadian amateur champion from Pefferlaw, Ontario, has taken the professional ranks by storm since she turned professional in late 2022, racking up seven consecutive wins and now positioning herself for her WBO world title challenge against Shadasia Green.

Canadian boxer Lucas “Prince” Bahdi (17-0, 15 KOs) comes to the ring by way of Niagara Falls, Ontario. The 30-year-old top contender has gone undefeated since making his professional debut in mid-2019, winning his first 11 fights by knockout. Bahdi had unanimous decision wins against Diego Fabian Eligio and Diego Andrade Chavez in 2022 before resuming his knockout streak. In May 2023, Bahdi defeated Jesus Amparan to claim the IBF North American Lightweight title. Bahdi is a top-ranked lightweight by both the IBF and WBA and most recently, proved himself among the best title contenders in the lightweight division when he scored a knockout of the year contender win over H2O Sylve on the main card of Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry in July 2024. 

Orlando, Florida’s Corey “2Smoove” Marksman (10-0-1, 7 KOs) will take the ring against Bahdi in a 10-round lightweight bout. The talented 24-year-old prospect made a name for himself in his first major PPV appearance on the Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry main card in July 2024, in a rematch against Tony Aguilar. The pair’s first meeting resulted in a well-fought split decision draw, contested during MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 5 in February 2024. In the rematch, Marksman impressed with grit, power, and endurance, taking home a majority decision win. He now enters the most difficult test yet of his young career, aiming to prove himself against one of the best lightweight contenders of the world in Bahdi.

The preliminary card will also feature a bout between two top-ranked featherweight talents, the undefeated Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington Jr. (13-0, 8 KOs) vs. Australia’s Dana Coolwell (13-2, 8 KOs). The 27-year-old standout prospect Carrington comes to the ring from Brownsville, NY, home of Mike Tyson. Carrington is a three-year pro who has emerged as the featherweight division’s fastest-rising contender, currently ranked No. 2 by the WBC and WBO. He entered the professional ranks following a storied amateur career that included a 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials gold medal. He began his 2024 campaign with February’s highlight-reel knockout of Bernard Torres, which was featured on SportsCenter’s Top 10. Four months later, he dominated Brayan De Gracia en route to an eighth-round stoppage. Carrington now comes into this high-profile fight coming off the stiffest test of his young career, his September 27 majority decision win over Sulaiman Segawa. 

Dana “Deadly” Coolwell (13-2, 8 KOs) is a 25-year-old Australian Indigenous boxer, known for his resilience and remarkable journey from adversity to success. A proud Aboriginal man from the Mununjali tribe in Queensland, Coolwell overcame an early life marked by hardship, struggling with direction and purpose amidst family struggles. He discovered boxing at age 14 at Hinterland Boxing Club, where he met Steve Pitt, his coach, mentor, and father figure. Using his natural speed, athleticism, and hard work, Coolwell progressed throughout Australia’s boxing ranks under Pitt’s guidance, most recently securing the IBO Intercontinental featherweight title in a unanimous decision win over Fernando Tagpuno Jr. The talented young prospect is undefeated at featherweight and aims to become the next Indigenous Australian world champion and Australia’s next great boxing story, following names like Anothy Mundine, Daniel Geale, and Lionel Rose.

“From start to finish, Paul vs. Tyson will deliver an exciting night of boxing to fans at AT&T Stadium and across the globe on Friday, November 15, beginning with an action-packed preliminary card,” said Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions. “Less than a year after her first title shot, MVP’s own Shadasia Green has fought her way back and is ready to claim the WBO world championship, but first she has to get through Melinda Watpool, who has her eyes on the prize. We are proud to continue our commitment to showcasing women’s boxing by featuring another title bout on this incredible card. Corey Marksman first caught our eye on Most Valuable Prospects, and after his standout performance on Paul vs. Perry, we’re thrilled to have him return to face Lucas Bahdi, who delivered a knockout-of-the-year contender on the same card. With the thrilling addition of Shu Shu Carrington and Dana Coolwell, a proud Aboriginal fighter from the Mununjali tribe, this card truly embodies the diversity and world-class talent that defines MVP.”

The Paul vs. Tyson main event will feature the 8-round heavyweight battle between international superstar Jake “El Gallo” Paul (10-1, 7 KOs) vs. The Baddest Man on the Planet Mike Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs). In the co-main event, undisputed super lightweight champion Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs) will put all her super lightweight belts on the line against boxing trailblazer and unified featherweight champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (47-2-1, 31 KOs) in a 10 round women’s championship fight, the most anticipated women’s boxing rematch in history. Also on the main card will be the 12-round men’s championship fight for the WBC welterweight title between reigning champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios (29-2, 18 KOs) vs. Abel Ramos (28-6-2, 22 KOs) and a 6-round super middleweight fight between India’s number one boxer and MVP’s first international signee Neeraj Goyat (18-4-2, 8 KOs) vs. Brazil’s multi-talented superstar Whindersson Nunes (2-2-1, 1 KO combined boxing record).

About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

Most Valuable Promotions was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its own events and talent partners. Since inception MVP has consistently produced the biggest combat sports pay-per-view events. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. The company signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano in its first year. Serrano and MVP made history in April of 2022 when Serrano went head to head with Katie Taylor, marking the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden, recently earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which is the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

About AT&T Stadium

AT&T Stadium is the largest, most technologically advanced entertainment venue in the world. Designed by HKS and built by Manhattan Construction, the $1.2 billion stadium features two monumental arches, the world’s largest HDTV video board cluster, an expansive retractable roof and the largest retractable end zone doors in the world. Features of the stadium include seating for 80,000 and expandability for up to 100,000, over 300 luxury suites, club seating on multiple levels and the Dallas Cowboys Pro Shop, open to the public year-round. Outside the stadium, the Miller Lite® House is a branded destination that boasts a 70-yard Cowboys turf field featuring field games, four video boards and over 60 television screens, two fantasy football screen walls and over 87,000 outdoor square-footage for event day experiences. The space also features two beer gardens and a walk-in beer cooler. The stadium is also home to a world-class collection of contemporary art, made up of over 92 works of art by 62 established and emerging artists displayed on the walls and in the grand public spaces of the venue. In addition to being the home of the Dallas Cowboys since opening in 2009, the stadium has hosted Super Bowl XLV, the 2010 NBA All Star Game, the annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, the 2014 NCAA Men’s Final Four, the 2015 inaugural College Football Playoff Championship Game, the 2015 50th Anniversary Academy of Country Music Awards show and WrestleMania 32 & 38. The venue has also played host to high school and college football, concerts, championship fights, international soccer matches and other special events. For more information, go to attstadium.com.

FEASTERVILLE, PA – October 2, 2024 – Joe Hand Promotions, the global leader in live sports viewing for the hospitality market, which includes bars, restaurants, and casinos, is proud to announce that Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano 2, a Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) global live sports event, will be available to establishments across the United States. The event will exclusively stream live globally on Netflix on Friday, November 15, 2024 from the 80,000-seat capacity AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.

Bars, restaurants, and other commercial locations with DIRECTV for BUSINESS can only order the landmark event by clicking here, or by calling Joe Hand Promotions at 1-800-557-4263. For more information, please visit www.JoeHandPromotions.com.

The global boxing event on Friday, November 15 features a clash for the ages between The Problem Child, Jake “El Gallo” Paul (10-1, 6 KOs) and the Baddest Man on the Planet, Mike Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs). This will be Paul’s most-anticipated fight to date, following three straight knockouts. Paul already holds boxing victories over former UFC stars such as Mike Perry, Nate Diaz, Anderson Silva, Tyron Woodley, and Ben Askren. Tyson, the legendary former undisputed world heavyweight champion, is recognized as one of the greatest fighters of all time, ESPN’s #1 hardest hitter in heavyweight history, and the youngest heavyweight champion ever at just 20 years old. His explosive power and ferocious fighting style led to a staggering run of 37 consecutive victories, with 33 of those wins coming by knockout.

The event also will also see undisputed super lightweight world champion Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs) step back in the ring for the most anticipated rematch in women’s boxing history against boxing trailblazer and unified featherweight champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (46-2-1, 30 KOs).

“We are incredibly excited to partner with Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions to bring the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and Taylor vs Serrano 2 event to commercial establishments across the country,” said Joe Hand Jr., President of Joe Hand Promotions. “We especially would like to thank Nakisa Bidarian and the MVP team, whose cutting-edge events consistently draw large crowds to bars and restaurants. We can’t wait to help fans across the country enjoy this historic event in their favorite establishments.”

If you are a fan who would like to watch Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson in the fun community setting of a bar or restaurant, visit www.ontapsports.live to find a participating venue.

About Joe Hand Promotions

Joe Hand Promotions brings fan communities from mainstream sports and entertainment into the top corporate and independently owned bars and restaurants, theaters, casinos, and other commercial establishments to provide the best viewing experience outside of the arena. As the commercial content partner for some of the nation’s top live-sports media properties, Joe Hand Promotions is the leader in the out-of-home live sports and entertainment media distribution industry. For over 50 years, Joe Hand Promotions has seamlessly connected commercial establishments with live sports, which has successfully driven traffic and increased revenues, time and time again. The Joe Hand Promotions team is more than the distributor, but also the advisor in this fast-growing industry.

• Netflix today announced COUNTDOWN: PAUL VS. TYSON, a three-part documentary series with intimate access to fighters The Problem Child, Jake “El Gallo” Paul (10-1, 7 KOs) and the Baddest Man on the Planet, Mike Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) as they prepare for Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions’ (MVP) highly-anticipated Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson heavyweight boxing mega-event, airing live on Friday, November 15, 2024 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. 
• The documentary series will take viewers behind-the-scenes of Paul and Tyson’s respective training camps to capture the incredible grit, determination and physical demands needed to prepare for what will be an explosive, can’t miss professional boxing mega-event. 
• COUNTDOWN will also follow the lead up to one of the most anticipated women’s fights in history, the rematch between undisputed super lightweight champion Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs) and unified featherweight champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (47-2-1, 31 KOs), as the two train to face off for the undisputed super lightweight championship title in the co-main event. 
• Fans will gain a fresh perspective to the unprecedented match-up through interviews with those closest to the fighters and raw, unfiltered moments with family and friends. 
• Episodes 1 + 2 will premiere on November 7; Episode 3 will premiere on November 12. 
• Production Company: EverWonder Studio
• Executive Producers: Ian Orefice, Michael Antinoro
• Series Directors: Tim Mullen, Jackie Decker

NEW YORK, NY – August 18, 2024 –?Today at the inaugural Fanatics Fest NYC, an immersive sports festival where sports, culture, and collecting collide, at the Javits Center in New York, the Problem Child, Jake “El Gallo” Paul (10-1, 7 KOs) and the Baddest Man on the Planet Mike Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) came face to face for the first time since the Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) historic bout was rescheduled. Paul vs. Tyson is set for an eight-round professional bout with two-minute rounds and will stream live globally, exclusively on Netflix on Friday, November 15, 2024 from the 80,000-seat capacity AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. Tickets for Paul vs. Tyson are on sale now at Seatgeek.com. 

In today’s press conference hosted by Emmy Award-winning journalist and Super Bowl Champion Ryan Clark, Paul and Tyson had plenty to say about the upcoming fight. See quotes below and view the full press conference on MVP’s YouTube and Netflix’s YouTube. 

Jake Paul Quotes

On why he’s fighting Mike Tyson: Making history. This is what it’s all about for me, man. I’m a kid from Ohio. […] They’ll never give me credit. That’s the way it is. If I was walking on water, they would say it’s because I couldn’t swim. And this is to make history. The people think I’m going to get knocked out by this strong, powerful guy. All the people in my comments say, ‘look at his power. He’s going to get KO’d.’ […] This has taken a chance to fight somebody as vicious as Mike can be. You got to risk it for the biscuit. That’s the name of the game. I’m here to make history. I’m here for a challenge. I’m here to fight one of the most dangerous men in all of boxing. No one that ever did anything great got there with ease or by an easy, non bumpy road. I’m here to challenge myself. He’s vicious. He’s a killer. I know all of these things. He has one punch knockout power. He’s the greatest heavyweight of all time. But I will prove […] all the haters wrong. 

On the prospect of knocking out Tyson: People are yelling at me in the event, but what happens when I put this man to sleep? […] He’s saying that it’s going to be my funeral. He’s saying it’s going to be my wake. He’s going to kill Jake Paul. All of these things, and that’s why I love Mike. I respect him, but we’re not friends anymore until November 15th. I’m knocking this motherfucker out and we’re going to see who’s dead. 

On how the fight will end: [Mike] is the one that wanted it to be a pro fight, so he’s going to get his ass knocked out [and have it count for his real professional record]. You’re going to see on BoxRec, Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson. Jake Paul KOs Mike Tyson. 

On the criticisms against him: At the end of the day, people are always going to have something to say. It’s because of who I am. I proved everyone wrong. Reminder: the most hated and most criticized boxer in the sport of boxing before they loved them was Muhammad Ali. So I’m the anti-hero, and people will love me soon enough once they realize what I’ve done for this sport and who I truly am. But it doesn’t bother me at the end of the day, because when you’re at the top, people are clawing to rip you down. And that’s just the way the game goes.

On what’s next after Paul vs. Tyson: I’m still on the path to become world champion. There’s a lot of shit talkers out there, a lot of big names who want to fight me. I still want Canelo Alvarez and I want to go on the path to world championship and that’s what I’m here to do. And I will make it happen. And when it happens, people are going to go, ‘God damn that kid did something we didn’t.’

On why he took the Mike Perry fight after Paul vs. Tyson was rescheduled: In this sport, staying active is key. I’m on the path to [a] world championship. I’ll do the money fights, I’ll knock out some legends, but at the end of the day, I want the belt. And that’s what I’m here to do. 

On how Mike Tyson will help him on his path to becoming world champion: [This is a fight with] big moments, big pressure, big stages [against] one of the greatest to ever do it. [Mike has] more experience than me, more fights than me, and I’m going to learn a lot in this fight and through this training camp. So this is helping me in my future fights and everything that I want to accomplish. 

Mike Tyson Quotes

On his ulcer flareup and how recovery is going: I’m very prepared [to knock out Jake Paul]. I’m very prepared. I had a small adversity. I got sick, but I feel good. […] I’m just ready. I’m just ready. I’m going to do my talk and I’m going to talk my shit, but I’m ready to fight.

On if he’s back to training camp: Well I’m beautiful and I’ve been [back to] training for a while, like two weeks, three weeks. […] I’m in camp.

On if fans will see 1990s Mike Tyson in the ring: Hey, listen, [as] soon as I catch this guy, it’s [over. Jake Paul is] going to be running around [the ring], but as soon as I catch this guy, it’s going to be totally over.

On what happens to anyone who steps in the ring against him: I’m going to fuck you up. 

On if Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson will happen Friday, November 15: It’s happening. We’re all here. 

On why he’s stepping back into the ring again: I don’t know. That’s a funny question. [I’m doing it] because I can. Who else can do it but me? Just look at it. Who else is he going to fight to make [an event of this magnitude] happen? 

On how Jake’s disrespectful words make him feel: I don’t know. He amazes me. [Crowd chants “Fuck Jake Paul].

On if he’ll fight again after Paul vs. Tyson: Hey, we have options. We’ll see.

About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

Most Valuable Promotions was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its own events and talent partners. Since inception MVP has consistently produced the biggest combat sports pay-per-view events. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. The company signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano in its first year. Serrano and MVP made history in April of 2022 when Serrano went head to head with Katie Taylor, marking the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden, recently earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which is the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

About Fanatics Events

Fanatics Events is building the largest network of sports and collector fan events around the world, offering fans the opportunity to come together in-person to celebrate all aspects of fandom—collectibles, memorabilia, fashion, music, and entertainment—and participate in unique fan experiences. In partnership with IMG, Fanatics Events is uniquely positioned to innovate the live and special events space by offering integrated, personalized, and immersive fan experiences—uniting fans for a common purpose, creating connections, offering a sense of identity and community across generations, and maximizing the presence and reach for Fanatics partners. Fanatics Events was spawned out of and will be enhanced by Fanatics’ current businesses—which today include Fanatics Commerce, Fanatics Collectibles, and Fanatics Betting and Gaming. 

The highly anticipated heavyweight fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson and the most anticipated rematch in women’s boxing history, Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano, is rescheduled for Friday, November 15, 2024 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

“Our team has worked diligently with all parties involved to reschedule this monumental fight to a date that ensures both Jake Paul and Mike Tyson are fully prepared, with equal training time, as well as allowing us to keep the event at AT&T stadium in the midst of the Cowboys season,” said Nakisa Bidarian, Co-Founder of Most Valuable Promotions. “We appreciate the outstanding dedication, collaboration, and flexibility of our partners at Netflix and AT&T Stadium. Paul vs. Tyson is the most cross generational sporting event in history, and we are committed to providing fans worldwide with this unforgettable night of boxing, live globally on Netflix. We look forward to seeing everyone on Friday, November 15 for a showdown that will be talked about for generations to come.”

“Although we had to postpone the fight, I will resume training shortly. I am thankful to the medical staff that treated me and to MVP, Netflix, and AT&T Stadium for working diligently to find the best reschedule date for all parties,” said Mike Tyson. “While we have a new date, the result will be the same no matter when we fight. Jake Paul is getting knocked out. On Friday, November 15, watch this in-person at AT&T Stadium or live on Netflix.”

Thank you for your understanding and continued support. Previously purchased tickets will be honored for Friday, November 15. No action is needed to keep current tickets and current seat locations. Tickets are still available HERE. Those unable to attend the rescheduled date are eligible for refund at their original point of purchase until July 8, 2024. To request a refund, contact SeatGeek at dallascowboys@seatgeek.com with the subject line “Paul vs. Tyson”. After July 8, 2024 tickets will no longer be available for a refund and your tickets will remain valid for the rescheduled date.

Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced that India’s number one boxer and MVP’s first international signee, Neeraj Goyat (18-4-2, 8 KOs), will make his MVP debut against Brazil’s multi-talented superstar Whindersson Nunes, who holds a cumulative 2-2-1 record in his boxing career with 1 KO, in a professional 6 round super middleweight bout contested at 165 lbs on Saturday, July 20. Goyat vs. Nunes is the latest must-see global fight on the event’s decorated global card, headlined by The Problem Child, Jake “El Gallo de Dorado” Paul vs. The Baddest Man on the Planet Mike Tyson in the 8 round heavyweight main event, and the most anticipated women’s boxing rematch in history between Katie Taylor and Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano in the co-main event, a 10×2 undisputed super lightweight world title fight. Paul vs. Tyson will stream live globally, exclusively on Netflix from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. Tickets for the event are on sale now at seatgeek.comand have broken records already for the highest gate of any boxing or MMA event in Texas’ history, a testament to just how big this event is.

Goyat, one of the most viral boxers in the sport, vs. Brazil’s multi-talented star, Nunes is in addition to the recently announced 10 round lightweight battle between MVP’s undefeated young phenom H2O Sylve (11-0, 9 KOs) vs. fellow undefeated top prospect Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield (17-0, 12 KOs) in a clash of two of boxing’s best prospects. Also on the undercard will be the 6 round 190 lb. cruiserweight bout between veteran Mexican cruiserweight and former WBC middleweight world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (53-6-1, 34 KOs) and UK UFC star Darren Till in Till’s professional boxing debut following his tremendous UFC career, which garnered the fighter 18 wins inside the cage, including 10 knockouts and 2 wins by submission. 

Goyat, born in Begampur, Karnal, Haryana, India, began his amateur boxing career in 2006 while attending the Army Sports Institute and quickly began his rise to the top, winning gold in 2008 in the Youth National Tournament. Goyat is a three-time WBC Asia title holder in 2015, 2016, and 2017, was named “Honorary Boxer of the Year” in 2017 by WBC Asia, and was the first Indian boxer ever to make the WBC World Rankings. Goyat was hurt in a car accident in 2019, which postponed a mega fight in the works against Amir Khan, but has since resumed fighting and continues his hunt for greatness. In spring 2024, he surged to the forefront of fighter attention worldwide via his viral social media campaign to fight MVP co-founder and international superstar Jake Paul, which culminated with Goyat traveling to San Juan, Puerto Rico to face off with Paul in person, ultimately signing to MVP. Goyat’s callout and subsequent faceoff set off a seismic wave of engagement across social media, garnering well over 150M views on his social media alone. Goyat will now make his MVP debut on Saturday, July 20 against Nunes. He trains under Kuldeep Keepa.

“I couldn’t be more excited to make my MVP debut on what promises to be the biggest boxing event in history,” said Neeraj Goyat. “With millions of fans back home in India watching my every move, I’m not just fighting for myself; I’m fighting to make history and make my country proud. Thank you to Nakisa and the entire MVP team and of course Netflix for this opportunity to shine on the biggest stage imaginable. I hope all Indians around the world tune in for this historic event.“

Whindersson Nunes, a Brazilian icon and social media superstar, boasts a cumulative 2-2-1 record in his boxing career, with 1 KO. Known for his charismatic presence both inside and outside the ring, Nunes has faced notable opponents, including his 2022 bout against legendary world champion Acelino “Popó” Freitas, which went the distance over 8 rounds and resulted in a draw for the fighters. With a massive following of over 100 million across social platforms, including 59.5 million on Instagram and 44.6 million on YouTube, Nunes is a formidable figure in the digital world. For his upcoming fight, he is sharpening his skills under the guidance of coaches Diego Rodrigues and Caio Franco, and is training alongside Olympic medalist and professional boxing standout Esquiva Falcao, promising his best performance yet. 

“I grew up watching big names in boxing, so having the opportunity to be part of this card and challenge myself in this sport is an honor,” said Whindersson Nunes. “As I’ve said on other occasions, boxing is more than just a fight: it’s an art that requires a lot of technique, timing and strategy. I have been preparing myself daily with my coaches to present my best version of a fighter in Texas and, once again, defend and make my country proud.”

“By featuring two more international stars in Neeraj Goyat and Whindersson Nunes, alongside the rest of our historic card, we’re strategically supplementing Paul vs. Tyson and Taylor vs. Serrano 2 to drive patriotic engagement with the event from two of the biggest countries in the world,” said Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions. “Neeraj Goyat is arguably the greatest Indian boxer of all time and he will now have the opportunity to represent India as a part of one of the biggest boxing events of all time. Whindersson Nunes is returning to the ring against a much more experienced boxer and it shows what a Brazilian badass he is, ready to take on the challenge – you have to respect that. These two fighters are viral content machines and boast incredibly loyal supporters and massive reach across India and Brazil. This isn’t just about the thrilling matchups; it’s about uniting fans from around the world for an unforgettable experience and to grow the sport of boxing.”

Additional information, including further undercard bouts, will be announced at a later date. Tickets are on sale now at seatgeek.com. 

About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

Most Valuable Promotions was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its own events and talent partners. Since inception MVP has consistently produced the biggest combat sports pay-per-view events. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. The company signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano in its first year. Serrano and MVP made history in April of 2022 when Serrano went head to head with Katie Taylor, marking the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden, recently earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which is the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

About Netflix

Netflix is one of the world’s leading entertainment services, with 270 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.

About AT&T Stadium

AT&T Stadium is the largest, most technologically advanced entertainment venue in the world. Designed by HKS and built by Manhattan Construction, the $1.2 billion stadium features two monumental arches, the world’s largest HDTV video board cluster, an expansive retractable roof and the largest retractable end zone doors in the world. Features of the stadium include seating for 80,000 and expandability for up to 100,000, over 300 luxury suites, club seating on multiple levels and the Dallas Cowboys Pro Shop, open to the public year-round. Outside the stadium, the Miller Lite® House is a branded destination that boasts a 70-yard Cowboys turf field featuring field games, four video boards and over 60 television screens, two fantasy football screen walls and over 87,000 outdoor square-footage for event day experiences. The space also features two beer gardens and a walk-in beer cooler. The stadium is also home to a world-class collection of contemporary art, made up of over 92 works of art by 62 established and emerging artists displayed on the walls and in the grand public spaces of the venue. In addition to being the home of the Dallas Cowboys since opening in 2009, the stadium has hosted Super Bowl XLV, the 2010 NBA All Star Game, the annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, the 2014 NCAA Men’s Final Four, the 2015 inaugural College Football Playoff Championship Game, the 2015 50th Anniversary Academy of Country Music Awards show and WrestleMania 32 & 38. The venue has also played host to high school and college football, concerts, championship fights, international soccer matches and other special events. For more information, go

Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced that MVP’s undefeated young phenom H2O Sylve (11-0, 9 KOs) will face fellow undefeated top prospect Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield (17-0, 12 KOs) in a clash of two of boxing’s best lightweight prospects. The 10-round lightweight battle will take place on the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano undercard on Saturday, July 20 as the two up-and-coming stars put their undefeated records on the line early in their careers, breaking the boxing mold to differentiate themselves and help grow the sport. Joining Sylve vs. Schofield on the undercard will be veteran Mexican cruiserweight and former WBC middleweight world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (53-6-1, 34 KOs) vs. UK UFC star Darren Till in Till’s professional boxing debut following his tremendous UFC career, which garnered the fighter 18 wins inside the cage, including 10 knockouts and 2 wins by submission. The fight will be a 6 round cruiserweight bout, contested at 190lbs. Paul vs. Tyson will stream live globally, exclusively on Netflix from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. Over 120,000 fans have signed up for presale access, a testament to the unprecedented immense global demand and excitement for the Paul vs. Tyson heavyweight mega-fight and Taylor vs. Serrano, the most-anticipated rematch in women’s boxing history. Fans can still sign up for advance presale access here.  

H2O Sylve, MVP’s undefeated 20-year-old phenom from Long Beach, California, returns to the ring following his 10-round bout against Brazil’s Estivan Falcao on MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects V in February 2024. The fight marked a step up in class for Sylve and followed his thrilling knockout of veteran William Silva on the Paul vs. Diaz card in August of 2023. Now, Sylve, ESPN Ringside’s 2022 Prospect of the Year, will look to test himself against a fellow world-class boxing prospect in Schofield, as both set their eyes on becoming a title contender in the near future. Sylve signed with MVP in 2022 and has been training in boxing since age 6 under his father Ivan.

“I can’t wait to step into the ring with ‘Kid Austin,’” said H2O Sylve. “He’s just another stepping stone on my path to greatness and when I’m done with him, he’ll wish he never signed the contract. It’s an honor to fight on this historic card and on Saturday, July 20th, over 270 million fans can tune in on Netflix and 80,000 more fans live at AT&T Stadium will have the opportunity to see me take care of ‘Kid Austin’ once and for all. Thank you to MVP and Netflix for this once in a lifetime opportunity.”

No stranger to overcoming adversity, 21-year-old Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield Jr. battled through poverty and homelessness to become one of the hottest world title contenders in the lightweight division. A pugilist working out of Davies Boxing and Fitness in San Antonio, Texas, his training and sparring resume features a long list of current and up-and-coming world champions. Schofield made his professional debut on October 9, 2020, with a skilled knockout over Richard Esquibel. Since then, he has quickly built out his undefeated, professional portfolio with a series of knockout wins. In March 2024, Schofield successfully defended his WBA International Lightweight title against the unconventional Esteuri Suero, who was disqualified in the fifth round for a low blow, point deductions and poor sportsmanship in the bout.

“Being on a card of this magnitude is very important to me,” said Floyd Schofield Jr. “I’ve worked super hard to get to fights like these, and now it’s time to show what I got. I step into that ring undefeated, and I will leave undefeated. H2O may doubt me, but he’ll soon realize he is facing an unstoppable force. This is my moment, and I look forward to showing the world what Kid Austin is capable of.”

Joining Sylve vs. Schofield on the undercard will be a 6-round Mexico-UK battle between boxing veteran Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and UK UFC star Darren Till who will make his professional boxing debut on Saturday, July 20. Chavez Jr., the Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico native and son of former three-division world boxing champion Julio César Chávez, “El Gran Campeón Mexicano,” the greatest Mexican fighter of all time. Chavez Jr. began his professional career with an impressive undefeated streak across his first 47 fights. Chavez Jr. climbed the rankings and became the WBC middleweight world champion in 2011, before being defeated by Sergio Martinez in Chavez’s fourth title defense in 2012. Chavez Jr. went on to reclaim regional titles and later won the WBC Continental Americas Super Middleweight title and last fought in his hometown of Culiacan with a UD win over David Zegarra. In June 2021, Chavez squared off with MMA star Anderson Silva, suffering a narrow split decision defeat and now looks to set the record straight as he takes on another MMA star in Till. 

“I’m excited to return to the ring after some time off, and I’m motivated and eager to reestablish myself as one of the greats,” said Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. “I was the first Mexican middleweight champion in the history of Mexico and want to prove that I can again become a champion. My return to the ring at this historic event is an honor. On Saturday, July 20, I’m going to win by KO and continue my journey.”

“I am confident that my son Julio is focused, and I’m excited about that,” said “El Gran Campeón Mexicano,” Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. “This is his moment to make a statement,  together on the same card with my friend Mike Tyson. I will be there by my son’s side when he wins. He has a lot of boxing left in him and he will prove it on July 20th!”

Facing down Chavez Jr. on Saturday, July 20 will be UK UFC legend Darren Till, who will make his professional boxing debut on the Paul vs. Tyson undercard. Till, the 31-year-old star from Liverpool, England turned pro in Muay Thai at just age 15 and went on to train across Brazil and the UK in MMA. From 2015-2022, Till was a standout in the UFC, collecting 18 wins inside the cage, with 10 coming by way of knockout and two by submission. Till fought in both the welterweight and middleweight divisions and challenged for the UFC Welterweight Championship in September 2018. In February 2023, Till requested release from the UFC to pursue his interest in boxing and now trains with UK boxing legend and former WBO light-middleweight title holder Liam Smith. He is managed by three-time super-middleweight world title contender Paul Smith. Till will make his professional boxing debut in a 190lb cruiserweight bout against Mexican star Chavez Jr.

“I’m very happy to be a part of this event. Paul vs. Tyson is going to be one of the biggest events of our generation, and to make my professional boxing debut on it is brilliant, said Darren Till. “I’m very happy with my opponent. I’ve been a fan of his father for many years and I’ve been a fan of Chavez Jr. too – he is a great fighter who I respect, but make no mistake about it, I am coming to knock him out in the first round. I am happy with where I am in life, and I am coming to make a statement on Saturday, July 20th in Texas.”

“Paul vs. Tyson and Taylor vs. Serrano will be epic bouts that captivate audiences worldwide, and we’ve worked diligently to create an unforgettable event that will leave fans on the edge of their seats. We’re thrilled to announce two additional fights that perfectly complement our main card,” said Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions. “H2O Sylve vs. ‘Kid Austin’ Floyd Schofield will be a battle showcasing the future stars of boxing. These two young stars are disrupting the sport of boxing by putting their undefeated records on the line against each other so early in their careers, to evolve the sport and set an example for other prospects. We are also excited to have Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. make his long-awaited return against UFC star Darren Till, in a Mexico vs. UK showdown. Chavez Jr. will be looking to silence the critics following his loss to Anderson Silva, while Till, training with UK boxing great Liam Smith, intends to show the world he’s a real threat inside the ring. The biggest event in modern boxing history just got bigger, and we can’t wait for fans to watch on Saturday, July 20 live, exclusively on Netflix from AT&T Stadium.”

Additional information, including further undercard bouts, will be announced at a later date. 

About Netflix

Netflix is one of the world’s leading entertainment services, with 270 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.

About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

Most Valuable Promotions was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its own events and talent partners. Since inception MVP has consistently produced the biggest combat sports pay-per-view events. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. The company signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano in its first year. Serrano and MVP made history in April of 2022 when Serrano went head to head with Katie Taylor, marking the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden, recently earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which is the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

About AT&T Stadium

AT&T Stadium is the largest, most technologically advanced entertainment venue in the world. Designed by HKS and built by Manhattan Construction, the $1.2 billion stadium features two monumental arches, the world’s largest HDTV video board cluster, an expansive retractable roof and the largest retractable end zone doors in the world. Features of the stadium include seating for 80,000 and expandability for up to 100,000, over 300 luxury suites, club seating on multiple levels and the Dallas Cowboys Pro Shop, open to the public year-round. Outside the stadium, the Miller Lite® House is a branded destination that boasts a 70-yard Cowboys turf field featuring field games, four video boards and over 60 television screens, two fantasy football screen walls and over 87,000 outdoor square-footage for event day experiences. The space also features two beer gardens and a walk-in beer cooler. The stadium is also home to a world-class collection of contemporary art, made up of over 92 works of art by 62 established and emerging artists displayed on the walls and in the grand public spaces of the venue. In addition to being the home of the Dallas Cowboys since opening in 2009, the stadium has hosted Super Bowl XLV, the 2010 NBA All Star Game, the annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, the 2014 NCAA Men’s Final Four, the 2015 inaugural College Football Playoff Championship Game, the 2015 50th Anniversary Academy of Country Music Awards show and WrestleMania 32 & 38. The venue has also played host to high school and college football, concerts, championship fights, international soccer matches and other special events. For more information, go to attstadium.com.

ARLINGTON, TX – May 9, 2024 – Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced that tickets for the professional boxing mega-event featuring The Problem Child, Jake “El Gallo de Dorado” Paul (9-1, 6 KOs) vs. the Baddest Man on the Planet Mike Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) and Matchroom’s undisputed super lightweight world champion Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs) vs. boxing trailblazer and unified featherweight champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (46-2-1, 30 KOs) will officially go on sale on Thursday, May 16 at 12pm ET on Seatgeek.com. Over 120,000 fans have signed up for presale access, a testament to the unprecedented global demand and excitement for the Paul vs. Tyson heavyweight mega-fight and Taylor vs. Serrano 2, the most-anticipated rematch in women’s boxing history, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, on Saturday July 20th live globally, exclusively on Netflix. Fans can sign up for advance presale access here. In tandem with general ticket on-sale, Most Valuable Promotions will present various VIP packages including a brand-new exclusive $2 million MVP Owner’s Experience.

VIP packages for Paul vs. Tyson will span four tiers, from the Contender Package, the Champion Package, Ringside VVIP Package, and the brand-new exclusive MVP Owner’s Experience. MVP has partnered with Elevate, a best-in-class sports and entertainment consulting firm, on selling the Owner’s Experience and the rest of these exclusive VIP packages.

The MVP Owner’s Experience package will offer unparalleled seats, access and amenities during fight week and on fight night. The $2 million Experience is anchored by two ringside apron seats (owner’s seats) that have never been offered in boxing before, four first row floor seats, and four second row floor seats for the event. The fight night Experience includes an exclusive stadium arrival experience, security and escort during the night, a pre-fight in locker room photo with each of Jake Paul and Mike Tyson, gloves signed by both fighters, a private green room with a top shelf open bar and all-inclusive food menu, and a post-fight in-ring photo opportunity for the group. 

Ahead of Saturday, July 20, MVP Owner’s Experience ticket holders will be provided exclusive access, accommodations, transportation, and premium gifts, including VIP lounge access and front row tickets to all of fight week events and activations, beginning Wednesday, July 17th. This includes the opportunity to be on stage with fighters during the final Paul vs. Tyson weigh-ins on Friday, July 19th. All ten guests will receive a boxing glove autographed by Jake Paul and Mike Tyson.

The MVP Owner’s Experience will also provide two-night luxury accommodations at the official fight hotel or similar luxury hotel option for 10 guests, featuring a penthouse suite for two, and four rooms to accommodate supplementary guests. Guests will additionally be provided with private luxury mini-coach transportation to and from events on Friday and Saturday.

Also available to ticket buyers looking for exclusive top-tier experiences will be the tiered Ringside VVIP Package, Champion Package, and Contender Package. Ringside VVIP ticket holders will be provided Row 1-2 floor seating on fight night. Access will include an expedited premium stadium entrance and private black car transportation for fight night, along with ringside club hospitality access with a top shelf open bar and all-inclusive food menu, meet and greet appearances from current and former boxing legends and celebrities, and a post-fight in-ring photo opportunity. Ahead of fight night, Ringside VVIP ticket holders will be provided exclusive VIP lounge access and VIP seating for Paul vs. Tyson fight week events and activations from Wednesday, July 17 through Friday, July 19, as well as 1 boxing glove autographed by Jake Paul and Mike Tyson. 

The Champion Package will include premium floor seat locations in row 2-4 on fight night, with a VIP parking pass and expedited premium stadium entrance, along with ringside club hospitality access with a top shelf open bar and all-inclusive food menu, meet and greet appearances from current and former boxing legends and celebrities, and a post-fight in-ring photo opportunity. Champion ticket holders will also be provided VIP lounge access and VIP seating for all Paul vs. Tyson fight week events and activations from Wednesday, July 17 through Friday, July 19.

The Contender Package will feature premium floor seat locations in rows 4-6, with a VIP parking pass and expedited premium stadium entrance. Guests will have access to the fighter walk lounge hospitality on fight night with a top shelf open bar and all-inclusive food menu. Contender ticket holders will be provided VIP lounge access and reserved seating at all Paul vs. Tyson fight week events and activations from Wednesday, July 17 through Friday, July 19.

“Paul vs. Tyson and Taylor vs. Serrano 2 represents a once-in-a-lifetime cultural phenomenon, spanning six generations of fans, that warrants ticketing options for every fan,” said Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of MVP. “To enhance the fan experience even further on Saturday, July 20, we have partnered with Elevate to provide a selection of VIP packages, including a first-ever MVP Owner’s Experience, providing the most expansive and exclusive access to the action throughout fight week and fight night. With over 120,000 presale signups, we anticipate that all tickets and VIP packages will sell out very quickly, and encourage fans to continue signing up for presale access at mostvaluablepromotions.com.” 

Next week, Paul, Tyson, Taylor, and Serrano will meet face-to-face to preview their highly-anticipated Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions mega-boxing event at two press conferences. The first will be held on Monday, May 13th at 5:30pm ET at the iconic Apollo Theater in New York City, hosted by renowned boxing journalist Ariel Helwani and the second will be held on Thursday, May 16 at 7:30pm CT / 8:30pm ET at Texas Live! in Arlington, Texas. Media can apply for credentials to attend the New York press conference here, and the Texas press conference here.

Additional information, including undercard bouts, will be announced at a later date. For the opportunity to sign up for presale tickets, click here.

About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

Most Valuable Promotions was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its own events and talent partners. Since inception MVP has consistently produced the biggest combat sports pay-per-view events. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. The company signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano in its first year. Serrano and MVP made history in April of 2022 when Serrano went head to head with Katie Taylor, marking the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden, recently earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which is the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

About Netflix

Netflix is one of the world’s leading entertainment services, with 270 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.

About Elevate

Elevate is a full-service consulting firm that inspires high-performing organizations to find their limits and push past them. With expertise in brand consulting, sales, strategy, data-driven insights, and talent optimization, Elevate gives its clients a competitive edge in the fight for people’s precious time and attention. Established in 2018, Elevate set out to help sports teams and leagues spark innovation and drive performance. In the years since, the world of sports has transformed, today standing at the convergence of media, entertainment, and consumer brands, with Elevate supporting some of the world’s most ambitious businesses across these sectors. Elevate’s proprietary technology, data sources, and software products give clients a 360-degree view of their customers, underpinning intelligent decision-making on marketing spend, growth strategy, and more. For more information, follow Elevate on X and Instagram @OneElevate_

The upcoming highly anticipated boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson will unfortunately be postponed. During a follow up consultation on Thursday with medical professionals on his recent ulcer flare up, the recommendation is for Mike Tyson to do minimal to light training over the next few weeks and then return to full training with no limitations.

Both Mike and Jake are in agreement that it is only fair to ensure that both athletes have equal training time to prepare for this important match and are able to compete at the highest level. The health and well-being of athletes is our top priority, and we fully support Mike in taking the necessary time to allow him to perform at the level he expects of himself.

Mike is expected to return to his full training schedule in the coming weeks and is eager to get back in the ring. MVP anticipates rescheduling the match to later this year at AT&T Stadium, and we look forward to an exciting and well-prepared contest between these two exceptional athletes. The new date of the fight will be announced by next Friday, June 7th. 

“I want to thank my fans around the world for their support and understanding during this time. Unfortunately, due to my ulcer flareup, I have been advised by my doctor to lighten my training for a few weeks to rest and recover,” said Mike Tyson. “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. I appreciate everyone’s patience and can’t wait to deliver an unforgettable performance later this year.”

“I fully support postponing the event so Mike Tyson has no excuses come fight night,” said Jake Paul. “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. Paul vs Tyson will be one for the ages, and I promise to bring my best for this once-in-a-lifetime matchup.”

We appreciate your understanding and patience during this time and wish Mike a restful recovery. Previously purchased tickets will be honored for the new date. No action is needed to keep current tickets and current seat locations. Those unable to attend the rescheduled date are eligible for a refund at their original point of purchase. To request a refund, contact SeatGeek at dallascowboys@seatgeek.com with the subject line “Paul vs. Tyson”.

Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Holden Boxing today confirmed that the heavyweight boxing mega-event between The Problem Child, Jake “El Gallo de Dorado” Paul (9-1, 6 KOs) vs. the Baddest Man on the Planet, Mike Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) will officially be a sanctioned, professional fight by Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR). The heavyweight matchup will be contested over 8, 2-minute rounds with 14oz. gloves. In the co-main event, undisputed super lightweight world champion Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs), will step back in the ring for the most anticipated rematch in women’s boxing history against boxing trailblazer and unified featherweight champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (46-2-1, 30 KOs). The event will stream live globally, exclusively on Netflix on Saturday, July 20, 2024 from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.

Tickets for Paul vs. Tyson and Taylor vs Serrano 2 will go on sale May 16 at 12pm ET; To sign-up for access to tickets in advance of the on-sale, click here.

“Mike Tyson and Jake Paul signed on to fight each other with the desire to do so in a sanctioned professional fight that would have a definitive outcome,” said Most Valuable Promotions co-founder Nakisa Bidarian. “Over the past six weeks MVP has worked with its partners to satisfy the requirements of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR) to sanction Paul Vs Tyson and we are grateful that we have gotten to this point. MVP has championed fighter choice since its inception, including advocating for women’s boxing to be contested with 2 or 3 minute rounds based on the particular fight matchup. Paul vs Tyson and Taylor vs Serrano 2 will both be contested with 2 minute rounds and each mega-fight will have its winner. Thank you to the TDLR and Holden Boxing for their efforts throughout this process to date and we look forward to working closely with them as we approach fight night.” 

About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

Most Valuable Promotions was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its own events and talent partners. Since inception MVP has consistently produced the biggest combat sports pay-per-view events. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. The company signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano in its first year. Serrano and MVP made history in April of 2022 when Serrano went head to head with Katie Taylor, marking the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden, recently earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which is the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

About Netflix

Netflix is one of the world’s leading entertainment services, with 270 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.

About AT&T Stadium

AT&T Stadium is the largest, most technologically advanced entertainment venue in the world. Designed by HKS and built by Manhattan Construction, the $1.2 billion stadium features two monumental arches, the world’s largest HDTV video board cluster, an expansive retractable roof and the largest retractable end zone doors in the world. Features of the stadium include seating for 80,000 and expandability for up to 100,000, over 300 luxury suites, club seating on multiple levels and the Dallas Cowboys Pro Shop, open to the public year-round. Outside the stadium, the Miller Lite® House is a branded destination that boasts a 70-yard Cowboys turf field featuring field games, four video boards and over 60 television screens, two fantasy football screen walls and over 87,000 outdoor square-footage for event day experiences. The space also features two beer gardens and a walk-in beer cooler. The stadium is also home to a world-class collection of contemporary art, made up of over 92 works of art by 62 established and emerging artists displayed on the walls and in the grand public spaces of the venue. In addition to being the home of the Dallas Cowboys since opening in 2009, the stadium has hosted Super Bowl XLV, the 2010 NBA All Star Game, the annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, the 2014 NCAA Men’s Final Four, the 2015 inaugural College Football Playoff Championship Game, the 2015 50th Anniversary Academy of Country Music Awards show and WrestleMania 32 & 38. The venue has also played host to high school and college football, concerts, championship fights, international soccer matches and other special events. For more information, go to attstadium.com.

Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced that after two years, Matchroom’s undisputed super lightweight world champion Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs), will step back in the ring for the most anticipated rematch in women’s boxing history against boxing trailblazer and unified featherweight champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (46-2-1, 30 KOs). Taylor vs. Serrano 2 will stream live globally, exclusively on Netflix on Saturday, July 20, 2024 from the 80,000-seat capacity AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. 

Taylor vs. Serrano 2 will be the co-main event to the recently announced heavyweight match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson as part of Netflix and MVP’s first-ever partnership. This will mark Taylor and Serrano’s long-awaited rematch following their historic bout at Madison Square Garden in 2022, where they made history as the first ever women fighters to headline an event in the iconic venue’s history. The bout ended in a narrow split decision in favor of Taylor and garnered global acclaim for both fighters earning Sports Illustrated’s Fight of the Year and The Ring’s Event of the Year for 2022. Taylor vs. Serrano was also nominated for Sports Business Journal’s Event of the Year, a testament to the global reach and power of the event. The rematch between the ESPN-ranked pound-for-pound powerhouses, #2 Taylor and #3 Serrano, will be contested for the undisputed super lightweight championship marking a jump of three weight classes from Serrano’s normal featherweight division as Taylor puts all her super lightweight belts on the line. The women’s undisputed megafight will be contested across 10, two-minute rounds, Serrano’s only break from fighting 12×3, the men’s championship standard, for the remainder of her career. Paul vs. Tyson and Taylor vs. Serrano 2 is anticipated to be the biggest boxing event in modern history, and fans can sign up for presale ticket access at mostvaluablepromotions.com. 

Irish sensation Katie Taylor once again reaches for greatness as she meets Amanda Serrano in a rematch – with Taylor looking to add another remarkable chapter to her incredible boxing career as she defends her undisputed Super-Lightweight title. Taylor defeated Serrano at a sold-out Madison Square Garden in April 2022 in a stunning fight of the year contest that saw Taylor successfully defend the undisputed Lightweight title that she won in the same arena in June 2019 against Belgian Delfina Persoon. Taylor became a two-weight undisputed champion in her last outing in November, overcoming Chantelle Cameron in a rematch of their closely fought battle in April, with both fights taking place at a sold-out 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. She first got her hands on world honors in her seventh pro fight, claiming the vacant WBA Lightweight title in Cardiff against Anahi Sanchez in October 2017, and has been in 17 straight world title contests since that night en-route to becoming a two-weight undisputed ruler.

“This is the rematch the world has wanted to see and I’m delighted that it’s finally happening,” said Katie Taylor. “The first fight in New York was obviously an epic occasion and it more than lived up to the billing, and I’m sure the rematch will be no different. I want to thank Matchroom and DAZN for their help in making the fight possible and I’m looking forward to defending my titles as Undisputed World Champion in Dallas on Saturday, July 20.”

Amanda Serrano, the first-ever Puerto Rican undisputed world champion and seven-division world champion, started her current featherweight title reign by defeating Heather Hardy in a brutal 10-round fight in 2019 to win the WBO belt, and has since defended her WBO belt six times. Serrano offered Hardy a chance at redemption in August 2023, but successfully defended her undisputed featherweight world champion title for the first time in a decisive 10 round unanimous decision victory. Serrano also won a blood-soaked war against WBA featherweight champion Erika Cruz in February 2023, which made her the undisputed featherweight champion. Serrano’s decisive win against Cruz followed her previous win over Sarah Mahfoud in Manchester, England that added the Dane’s IBF title to her WBO, WBC, and IBO featherweight belts. Most recently, Serrano took home a unanimous decision victory against her mandatory WBO challenger Danila Ramos, making history in the first-ever women’s unified world championship to be fought over 12, three-minute rounds, equal to any men’s championship fight, and marking the first time a women’s fight has gone the full 12×3. Serrano threw a career high 1,103 punches in the bout. In a true commitment to change for women’s boxing, Serrano recently vacated her WBC title, as the sanctioning body does not support women’s choice for 12×3. Serrano, whose natural weight is 126 pounds, now steps up to super lightweight to face Taylor for the second time, aiming to add the Irish fighter’s belts to her current featherweight hardware in what would be a championship in her eighth weight class.  

“I promised my fans they would see this rematch after we made history at MSG and it feels like a dream come true to know that Katie and I are finally making it happen on the biggest stage possible to show the world what elite women’s boxing is all about,” said Amanda Serrano. “While my focus continues to be on giving women the choice to fight with the same rules as men, I’ve always said that this is the one fight I’d go back to 10×2 for if that’s what Katie wanted. I’m coming for her belts, she wants 10×2, so that’s what we will do. I believe I won our first fight, but I didn’t get the decision, so this time I’m not leaving it to the judges. I am honored to share this iconic MVP card in the biggest stadium, on the biggest streaming platform in the world. Thank you Nakisa, Jake, Mike and Netflix for making this happen. And to all the young girls and women watching, I want you to know that anything is possible. Keep dreaming, keep working hard, and never let anyone tell you otherwise. It took me 15 years of blood, sweat and tears to get here, but it’s all worth it because I’m living my dreams.”

Taylor vs. Serrano 2 marks the latest in MVP’s series of significant women’s championship fights as the company works to establish equity across the sport. The event follows Amanda Serrano’s first-ever 12×3 unified championship fight vs. challenger Danila Ramos in October and the Paul vs. August special championship feature of MVP’s Shadasia “The Sweet Terminator” Green vs. Franchón Crews-Dezurn for the WBC and WBA super middleweight world titles.

“When we announced Paul vs. Tyson, we stated that this would be the most-watched boxing event in modern boxing history and we’re here to deliver on a card worthy of that greatness,” said Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions. “Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor have proven they are two of the biggest names in the sport, male or female and their rematch is one of the biggest fights in boxing, so it’s only fitting for them to be a part of this massive global event. Anyone who witnessed their first battle knows the unforgettable atmosphere and performance Amanda and Katie bring when they step into the ring together,and this is sure to be a fight of the year contender again. Bringing attention to women’s boxing has always been a priority for MVP and we are thrilled to give the world’s most-anticipated women’s boxing fight ever a crowning moment on Netflix. Thank you to Matchroom and DAZN for working with MVP and Netflix to make this historic fight come to fruition.”

“Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano are two of the best boxers in the world,” said Mike Tyson. “I know they can both put on an incredible show, and I’m thrilled to have them join this card. These remarkable athletes will undoubtedly elevate the event with their global appeal and fan bases. Adding one of the greatest fights in women’s boxing history to this unforgettable event is a true gift to fans. Saturday, July 20 can’t get here soon enough.”

Netflix is the premier home for great sports entertainment with hits like Emmy-nominated Untold that featured Jake Paul the Problem Child episode last year, along with Formula 1: Drive To Survive, Full Swing, Beckham, NASCAR: Full Speed, Quarterback, Tour de France: Unchained, Under Pressure: The U.S. Women’s World Cup Team and Six Nations: Full Contact. And beginning in 2025, Netflix will become the new home of WWE Raw. Paul vs. Tyson and Serrano vs. Taylor II will be Netflix’s third live sports event, following The Netflix Cup and The Netflix Slam. 

“Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano captivated  the sports world during their first fight two years ago, and fans have been clamoring to see them in the ring together again ever since,” said Gabe Spitzer, Vice President, Nonfiction Sports, Netflix. “We are thrilled to partner with MVP to bring this epic rematch to Netflix subscribers all over the world on Saturday, July 20th, in what will be an unforgettable night alongside Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson.”

Additional information, including the additional undercard bouts, will be announced at a later date. For the opportunity to sign up for presale tickets, click here.

About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

Most Valuable Promotions was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its own events and talent partners. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. MVP have produced Jake Paul’s last five global pay-per-view events, including the recent Paul vs. Diaz match. The promotion company also signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano in its first year. Serrano and MVP made history in April of 2022 when Serrano went head to head with Katie Taylor, marking the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden, earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which was the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

About Netflix

Netflix is one of the world’s leading entertainment services with over 260 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.

About AT&T Stadium

AT&T Stadium is the largest, most technologically advanced entertainment venue in the world. Designed by HKS and built by Manhattan Construction, the $1.2 billion stadium features two monumental arches, the world’s largest HDTV video board cluster, an expansive retractable roof and the largest retractable end zone doors in the world. Features of the stadium include seating for 80,000 and expandability for up to 100,000, over 300 luxury suites, club seating on multiple levels and the Dallas Cowboys Pro Shop, open to the public year-round. Outside the stadium, the Miller Lite® House is a branded destination that boasts a 70-yard Cowboys turf field featuring field games, four video boards and over 60 television screens, two fantasy football screen walls and over 87,000 outdoor square-footage for event day experiences. The space also features two beer gardens and a walk-in beer cooler. The stadium is also home to a world-class collection of contemporary art, made up of over 92 works of art by 62 established and emerging artists displayed on the walls and in the grand public spaces of the venue. In addition to being the home of the Dallas Cowboys since opening in 2009, the stadium has hosted Super Bowl XLV, the 2010 NBA All Star Game, the annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, the 2014 NCAA Men’s Final Four, the 2015 inaugural College Football Playoff Championship Game, the 2015 50th Anniversary Academy of Country Music Awards show and WrestleMania 32 & 38. The venue has also played host to high school and college football, concerts, championship fights, international soccer matches and other special events. For more information, go to attstadium.com.

By Norm Frauenheim –

Outrage is boxing’s oxygen. So, take a deep breath, because there’s plenty of it in the hours since Netflix announced Mike Tyson-versus-Jake Paul.

Give Netflix some credit. It didn’t call it a fight, which of course it is not.  Netflix is calling it a boxing event. It’s not exactly that either.

Tyson-Paul has about as much to do with boxing as Boxing Day does in the Commonwealth countries, where people box up food and other leftovers for the poor the day after Christmas.

That’s an act of mercy. But there’s none of that in what Netflix, Tyson and Paul are planning for July 20 at Cowboys owner Jerry Jones’ big top in Arlington, Tex.

There’s only money.

They’ll grab what they can and move on, leaving only the usual outrage and absolutely no mercy for the crowd that always buys into these events. It’s happening because there’s a market for it and there always will be.

There are reasonable questions, of course. By now, most of them have already been posted on outrage media.

Will Texas regulators call it an exhibition or sanction it? Will Texas drug-test Tyson, a pot farmer and user, after suspending Keyshawn Davis for a positive test in October?

Then, there’s the age debate. Tyson will be 58, if in fact he doesn’t come up lame in the gym before the scheduled date.

Fifty-eight doesn’t exactly make him a senior citizen. He’s still seven years from qualifying for Medicare, which he might need after he subjects his aging, battered body to a workout regimen. But it’s his choice, his life. His payday.

Besides, the last I checked, two guys, one 81 and the other 77, are running for President. Maybe, the loser can face the winner, although I’m guessing only Netflix wins this one.

At the opposite end of the age scale, there’s the 27-year-old Paul. He wasn’t even around for Tyson’s memorable days as a feared heavyweight.

More than 11 years before Paul was born, Tyson, then 20, became history’s youngest heavyweight champ ever with a second-round stoppage of Trevor Berbick in November 1986.

On the street or in the ring, there’d be something unseemly about a young man against an aging one. If it were real, it’d be really wrong. But it’s really not. It’s a made-for-social-media event.

As a boxing writer and fan, I suppose I could join the outrage mob. But anger at Tyson-Paul would be as phony as calling it a fight. Prizefighting’s historical canvas includes lots of scars, yet not one draws a line between right and wrong.

George Foreman once fought five guys, all in one night. Ali once fought a Japanese wrestler to a draw in Tokyo.

Truth is, it happens throughout sports.

Jesse Owens once raced a horse. In the early 1970s, Evel Knievel rode his motorcycle in a jump over an Idaho Canyon, appropriately named Snake River. Bob Arum helped promote that one. ABC’s Wide World of Sports didn’t televise it, but it did televise Knievel jumping over 13 London buses before a crowd of 90,000 at Wembley Stadium in 1975.

Just last month, the East scored 211 points in an NBA All-Star Game devoid of anything resembling defense. In terms of competitive drama, it was about as real as Tyson-Paul will be.

I didn’t watch that.

I won’t watch Tyson-Paul, either. 

TOKYO (April 6, 2022) — Fight week is in full swing and throughout Japan, Gennadiy “GGG” Golovkin is being hailed as the biggest name to enter a ring in Japan since heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.   Tyson was knocked out by 40-1 underdog James “Buster” Douglas on February 11, 1990 — arguably the biggest sports upset of the 20th century — a fact not lost on Golovkin.  Boxing’s most dominant middleweight of his era, Golovkin (41-1-1, 36 KOs), from Karaganda, Kazakhstan, is finally in Japan, after several postponements caused by the pandemic, enjoying his first fight week since December 2020.  He has brought the Big Drama Show and his IBF and IBO world title belts to face two-time WBA middleweight champion and Japan’s national hero Ry?ta Murata (16-2, 13 KOs) in a long-awaited world title unification fight.  Promoted by Teiken Promotions, in association with GGG promotions, Golovkin vs. Murata will take place this Saturday, April 9, and will be streamed live from Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, just north of Murata’s hometown of Tokyo, to over 200 countries and territories, including the U.S., exclusively on DAZN (excluding Japan and Kazakhstan), beginning at 5:10 a.m. EDT / 2:10 a.m. PDT, with the main event scheduled to start at approximately 8:00 a.m. EDT / 5:00 p.m. PDT.  Golovkin and Murata boast a combined record of 57-3-1, 49 KOs — a winning percentage of over 93% — with 86% of their victories coming by way of knockout. 

Golovkin’s Big Drama Show has packed iconic arenas around the world, selling out Madison Square Garden, The O2 in London, the Fabulous Forum and StubHub Center in Los Angeles, and T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.  Saitama Super Arena is expected to join that illustrious list.  He has been a middleweight world champion every year since 2010, a testament to his discipline, drive, and talent.  GGG’s résumé includes a division-record 21 title defenses, 20 of them consecutively, also a division record.       

Here’s what Golvkin had to say about Murata, training, fighting in Japan, turning 40 on weigh-in day, and other things.

“Japan is the land of surprises, at least when it comes to boxing.  I remember what happened in the Tyson-Douglas fight.  It has been in the back of mind throughout training camp.  I already had a lot of respect for Ry?ta Murata, but Tyson-Douglas is a reminder to never  give less than 110% every day in training camp.  The last time I fought in Japan was over 20 years ago.  It was in the East Asian Games in Osaka.  I had a great time.    

“I have been in my Florida training camp — off and on — since October because of postponements.  First the fight was going to be last December, than there was a chance of it happening in February, and finally this Saturday.  I chose to train in south Florida because of the warmer weather and it was easier to get good sparring partners.  A lot of the fighters get sick in the cold climate of Big Bear in the late fall and winter months.  I really enjoyed training in Florida.  The biggest obstacle in these postponements, other than the frustration of not fighting, is peaking before the December and February dates and then pulling back and building up again.  It wasn’t easy, but every time I would break camp and go home, I would stay in shape by doing light conditioning and speaking with my trainer Johnathon Banks daily.  Johnathon would remind me every day, ‘Go steady.  Do not go heavy.’  between training camps. He was right.  I always returned to training camp energized and ready to go.  This last training camp resumed in early February.

“It is a challenge when fighting in a different country, especially if that country happens to be my opponent’s homeland.  But it spurs me on even more in training camp.  Now that I am in Japan, the adrenaline is starting to pump.  I am really excited to be here and to fight in front of the fans in Japan.  They really love and appreciate good boxing.

“Murata is a good, solid fighter.  There is a reason he has been an Olympic gold medalist and is a two-time WBA world champion.  He came to my training camp in Big Bear many years ago.  We sparred a little.  He was a very serious fighter.  He worked very hard in everything he did in camp, inside and outside the ring.  We got along very well.

“I am going to be 40 on Friday but I feel good.  I will continue fighting as long as I feel good and can train hard to fight at the level I have come to expect of myself.  Living a healthy lifestyle keeps me feeling good, strong.

“Murata is the most important fight.  Period.  I do not look ahead.  I have been fully invested in training for the fight I have in front of me.  I have too much respect for Murata and his body of work.  My focus is on him and winning his title.  That is why I am in Japan.  I look forward to fighting in a packed arena.  I have missed that energy.  It is going to be exciting because we both have similar styles of fighting.  We are both power punchers, we are aggressive and we come forward.  Diamonds cut diamonds and on Saturday, there will be two diamonds in the ring.  It will be a boxing gift to the fans  I expect it to be the fight of the year.

“Yes, I have been told by several reporters that Canelo wants to fight me again and that this time ‘it is personal.’  If it is so ‘personal,’ why has it taken him four years since our last fight?  He pretends it is personal.  I find it puzzling he would make such a claim.”                  

Hot From GGG – Murata Media Central

Fight Week Wednesday Edition

·         Nearly 40, Gennadiy Golovkin’s clock is tick, tick, ticking for Canelo Alvarez | Jerry Izenberg – nj.com

·         ‘Age gives me additional edge’ – Gennadiy Golovkin all set for unification fight | Press Association

·         Golovkin’s blockbuster Canelo trilogy at stake in Murata showdown (Agence France-Presse)

·         Boxing betting: Gennadiy Golovkin favored to win by knockout (yahoo.com)

During the early years of Atlantic City boxing, the fight game was bustling. An array of ring talent, from club fighters to champions, came to the shore to compete at thriving venues like the Northside’s Waltz Dream Arena and Convention Hall on the Boardwalk. Although ring action was plentiful, the biggest fights were still happening elsewhere. However, everything changed once gambling came to town. As casinos popped up along the Boardwalk, Atlantic City fights got bigger and bigger. By the late 1970s, boxing was on the rise, and within a few years, business was booming. Heavyweight champion Mike Tyson ushered in the city’s peak era in the late 1980s, a time when more than just fight fans turned their attention to Atlantic City for some of the biggest sporting events ever. A decade later, Arturo Gatti ushered in another rise in AC’s prominence with a series of thrilling appearances in the city. Although AC never again topped the impact of those days, boxing action at the shore remained vital for decades to come.

John DiSanto and Matthew H. Ward have co-authored a book that tells the story of Atlantic City boxing from 1865 to 2020. The image-driven book includes more than 200 photos, many of them previously unpublished and seen for the very first time. This book is now available for sale and can be ordered directly from the authors (ACBoxingBook.com) or your favorite bookseller including Amazon.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
John DiSanto is the founder of PhillyBoxingHistory.com and the Briscoe Awards and is the chairman of the Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame. Matthew H. Ward is a historian and journalist who specializes in boxing, Jersey Shore, and Philadelphia history.

ABOUT THE BOOK
Boxing in Atlantic City, released on November 1, 2021, is a 128-page soft cover book that includes 230 photographs. The cover price is $23.99.

ABOUT THE PUBLISHER
Arcadia Publishing and History Press is the nation’s leading publisher of books of local history and local interest. Arcadia has an extraordinary catalog of more than 15,000 local titles and publishes 500 new books each year.

Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (April 30, 2021)—WBA Heavyweight Champion Trevor Bryan is chomping at the bit to take on all comers as he continues training in Florida following winning the title.

“I’m the only heavyweight champion in the United States,” said Bryan, who calls himself “The Dream”.  “I’m the young lion and I’m hungry.  “Bring on Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.  I’ll take their belts and become the undisputed heavyweight champion.  I’ll even give Iron Mike Tyson the opportunity to come back and fight me for my title.”

“I’m more than ready, so let’s get it on.  We are ready to go.  I’ll take on Mike Tyson for a tune-up and then I’ll fight either Joshua or Fury the same night.”

Bryan’s promoter, Don King, is ready to get Bryan back into the ring with his belt.

“Let’s make a deal,” said King.  “Trevor is ready to get back into the ring and claim the other belts.”

The 31-year-old Bryan won the regular WBA championship on Jan. 29 of this year as he stopped Bermane Stiverne in the 11^th round.  Bryan is 21-0 with 15 KOs.

By Norm Frauenheim-

Mike Tyson isn’t back in the news. He never left. He’s there this week with a swift succession of contradictory headlines that would leave you with whiplash if it weren’t for what we already expect from him.

He has more moods than weather has fronts. It’s impossible to forecast what he’ll say or do next. One minute, he’s fighting Evander Holyfield. The next minute, he isn’t.

The best question is to ask whether anybody cares. But the answer only raises more question. Turns out, plenty of people do care and most of them don’t read The Ring

Boxing has run out of crossover fans. But Tyson still has them. They’re there, following TMZ, which broke the latest story. No, TMZ reported Wednesday he won’t fight Holyfield in a May 29 exhibition in Miami despite other reports that, yes, he would.

The week began with news from the Holyfield camp that the fight was off. It continued Tuesday with Tyson saying it was on during an Instagram interview with Haute Living.  Haute Living’s masthead advertises a publication that reports on Lifestyle, Celebrity, Travel and Fashion. No mention of pound-for-pound ratings.

·       Yeah, it’s confusing. Then again, what could be more confusing than plans for a fight between two men, each older than half a century? Tyson is 54; Holyfield is 58. A license to fight isn’t a license to drive. But that’s another story

The story here is Tyson’s celebrity. It’s durable, which is another of way saying you can bank on it. Tyson, the personality, still fascinates. Hence, the headlines in TMZ and Haute Living. Most of their audience would never be interested in the reasons Errol Spence-versus-Terence Crawford hasn’t happened. Come to think of it, they probably have never heard of Spence or Crawford.

But Tyson? Stupid question. Everybody knows Tyson for all the usual reasons, both crazy and compelling. They were there four months ago for his exhibition against Roy Jones Jr. The Triller-staged pay-per-view production on Nov. 28 did numbers that boxing hasn’t done in years. Reportedly, 1.6 million bought the telecast. Reportedly, it generated $80-million in revenue. They weren’t buying to see Jake Paul slam-dunk Nate Robinson like a basketball.

They were buying Tyson.

Still are.

The guess here is that they’ll still get a chance to buy Tyson in a show that might include Holyfield. Might not. Holyfield beat him twice in the 1990s and only lost a piece of his ear. But the show belongs to Tyson no matter who’s in the supporting cast. Even if the rounds are limited to two minutes and the gloves are pillow-sized, there’s a suspicion that Tyson really doesn’t want to fight Holyfield anyway.

Fighting is in Holyfield’s DNA. There’s a good chance he’ll be as serious, mentally and physically, at 58 as he was at 34 in the 1997 Bite Fight. Who knows with Tyson? He’s an entrepreneur at 54 and as unpredictable as ever. He hopes to succeed with his Legends Only League, a concept that defies the clock and how it erodes ankles, arms and athletes.

Tyson might be his league’s only legend, mostly because of his hold on the public imagination. If widespread reports are accurate, it’s strong enough to spawn a planned television series, a biopic starring Jamie Foxx as Tyson.

It sounds crazy, as in crazy money. That’s the only sure thing with Tyson.

MIAMI (March 22, 2021) – Representatives of Evander Holyfield expressed frustration after Mike Tyson’s representatives refused to accept a $25,000,000 guarantee from Team Holyfield to participate in Tyson v Holyfield 3 at the Hard Rock Stadium to kick off Memorial Day weekend. The parties have been in intense negotiations for several months and Team Holyfield sincerely believed a deal was imminent, especially after the Hard Rock threw its support behind the project, and there were multiple other offers conveyed to Team Tyson. However, Team Tyson’s demands recently became untenable, and not what Mike Tyson had originally agreed on in direct conversations with Holyfield.

The event was to occur at the beautiful Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins NFL franchise, Super Bowl games, and many other world class sporting events and entertainment, and would have been the ideal setting for the trilogy finale of this great rivalry between two of the greatest legends in the history of boxing. While neither side has announced publicly that the fight is not going to happen, with negotiations at a standstill and the date rapidly approaching, it seems unlikely that this fight will occur as planned.

“We thought this was a done deal but it quickly fell apart when Tyson’s people declined all offers,” said Kris Lawrence, Evander Holyfield’s manager. “We were negotiating in good faith all along and it appears we just ended up wasting our time.”

By Kyle Kinder-

When Brownsville and boxing are mentioned in the same sentence, the name Mike Tyson usually emerges from someone’s mouth.  And if it doesn’t, there’s a good chance the name of another Brownsville champion does; perhaps Riddick Bowe or Shannon Briggs, maybe Zab Judah or Daniel Jacobs.

There’s another Brownsville though, some 2,000 miles from the boxing-rich Brooklyn streets of Tyson’s youth.  Just across the border from Matamores, Mexico, this Brownsville has yet to produce a world champion.  At 8-0 with 5KO’s, junior welterweight Omar “El Relampago” Juarez is on a mission to change that.

With a population north of 182,000 people, Brownsville claims the southernmost point on mainland USA and is the most populous municipality comprising Texas’ Rio Grande Valley.  And while boxing’s roots run deep in Brownsville, it wasn’t until recently that the city and surrounding region have begun to produce world-class fighters. 

In the Rio Grande Valley, like the rest of Texas, football is king.  Most boys grow up playing youth football with the dream of one day achieving glory under Texas’ famed Friday Night Lights.  So perhaps it was a bit of a divergence then, that at 8 years old, Omar Juarez stuffed his fists into padded gloves and committed himself to boxing.  

“My father was a huge fan of boxing,” Juarez, now 21, said.  “It all started with me just wanting to make my parents proud.”

Just a year later Juarez began boxing competitively…if you can call it that.  He got walloped in his first ten amateur bouts, losing them all. 

“I got knocked down twice in my first fight,” he recalled.  “I would lose left and right..and of course I was knocked down left and right…but I just stuck to it.  It was a very bumpy road, but I stuck to it.” 

Juarez’s persistence, combined with a steady diet of hard-work and discipline eventually paid off.  After a cruel introduction to the world of amatuer boxing, Juarez started to win…and win often.  He went on to claim victory in 90 of his final 110 amateur contests before turning pro in September 2018 under Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) promotional banner. 

In his first six fights, which spanned September 2018 to November 2019, Juarez faced opponents with a combined record of 11-21-5, stopping three of them inside the distance.  

But in 2020, PBC matchmakers upped Juarez’s opposition level, pitting the Mexican-American against four boxers whose combined record read 59-34-3.

In February Juarez squared off against his toughest foe yet,  Mexico’s Martin Angel Martinez; a gritty veteran who had shared the ring with former world champions Lucas Matthysse and Marcos Maidana.  After eight hardfought rounds, all three judges awarded Juarez a wide decision. 

“I learned a lot in that experience especially from a fighter that had over 40 fights and fought a lot of good fighters,” said Juarez. “Originally, we thought we were going to fight someone else, but I told myself whoever it is, it doesn’t matter.  I trained hard, I put in all the hard work in camp.  It turned out to be one of my hardest fights, but I definitely learned a lot.”  

Riding high after the biggest win of his career, Juarez hoped to get back in the ring in early spring.  In a perfect world, he wanted to fight five more times in 2020.  

But less than a month later, COVID-19 thrust the majority of the country into lockdown.  Although his plans for the year were altered, Juarez knew boxing would likely resume in the summer.  He made certain that when it did, he’d be ready to fight.

“We actually quarantined here for about two to three months,” Juarez said.  “During the quarantine I was getting up every day, there was nothing open, I was here in my backyard, in my garage…using the resources we had to stay in shape to be ready.

“Something told me this was not going to last,” he continued.  “Eventually it will go back to normal and they were going to call me and ask if I’m ready and that’s exactly what happened.  About four weeks before my August fight, which was the first fight after the pandemic….I said I’m ready.”

In that August fight, Juarez, who is trained by his father Rudy, earned a wide six round unanimous decision against once-defeated Willie Shaw.  He picked up another convincing eight round decision in a slugfest against West Virginia’s Dakota Linger the following month.  And on December 26, Juarez closed out 2020 with a bang, dropping veteran Raul Chirinos four times in the opening round en route to a first round TKO. 

As his national profile grows with each win, the Brownsville-born fighter remains grounded, vowing to be a force for good in his south Texas community.  

Roughly three years ago, Juarez decided to delve into the world of motivational speaking.  As a boxer who dropped his first ten amateur contests, yet persisted to become a top junior welterweight prospect in the pro ranks, Juarez felt his story could inspire others.  He wanted to let kids in the Valley know that with hard work, dedication, and persistence, they could do the same. 

“I was fresh out of high school…I wanted to start motivating students,” said Juarez.  “What motivated me a lot was listening to motivational speeches by famous athletes and motivational speakers…specifically Eric Thomas and David Goggins.  I said to myself, you know, if these guys can help me fight adversity in life, I’m more than sure that I can help somebody else.

“So we started with elementary schools at first to see how it went,” he continued.  “And from there, just with word of mouth, it blew up by itself.  And from there we had gigs left and right speaking at middle schools, high schools, pep rallies.  We were sometimes doing three schools per day.  Every single time we have an event I have to speak at, I’m always getting up with a smile on my face ready to speak from my heart and that’s why I like it.”

It’s unsurprising that Juarez’s motivational speaking events combined with his in-ring success, have coincided in a boxing boom of sorts in the Valley.  

Juarez is humble enough to not claim any credit himself, but acknowledges the Valley’s interest in boxing is peaking.  

“The sport is growing a lot here in the Rio Grande Valley,” Juarez said.  “We have champions and I feel like we have a lot of talent coming up with the amateur fighters that are training currently and fighting all over the place.”

Although already in the throes of amateur boxing as a young teen, Juarez himself was inspired by a fellow Valley boxer, former WBC World Lightweight Champion Omar Figuroa, who hails from nearby Weslaco.

“I remember growing up when Omar was getting pretty big…watching him did motivate me,” Juarez said.  “I remember going to I think it was in Corpus [Christi] to watch him….and seeing all the lights, all the action, it was everything I ever dreamt of.

“I was still an amateur and just watching would bring a spark inside of me,” he went on.  “I’d come back from a fight and go want to workout….it would pump me up.”

Though Omar Figueroa is now inactive, his younger brother Brandon picked up the mantle, and as the current WBA Regular Super Bantamweight world titlist, is the Valley’s lone world champion.

And while Juarez and the Figueroa brothers represent the present and future of boxing in the Valley, there have been recent efforts to celebrate the region’s fighting past.  In Fall 2018 the RGV Boxing Hall of Fame was founded and five local boxers and physicians were inducted in the first inaugural class:  Dr. Benjamin Salinas, Alfredo “Chicken” Gomez, Herberto “Beto” Carr, Tomas Barrientes, and Andrew Maynard.  Juarez’s younger brother Sebastian took home the first annual RGV Amateur of the Year award.

There is little doubt that Juarez will one day himself be inducted into the RGV Hall of Fame, but not anytime soon.  Juarez has his immediate sights set on competing in lengthier fights this calendar year against increasingly tougher opposition.

“A perfect 2021 would be four to five fights,” Juarez said. “I don’t doubt I’ll get four, hopefully we squeak in five.  I want to become a world champion as soon as possible.”

He continued, “This year I’m looking to get into ten or hopefully twelve rounders and start making some noise. But I know that I’m not ready, I’m only a prospect, but I believe in two or three years, it’s [becoming a world champion] going to happen.  I just have to continue to be consistent, stay patient, and continue to work hard.”

If Juarez’s dream ever becomes reality, he’ll join a long, illustrious list of world champions from Brownsville. 

But he’ll be the first and only one from Brownsville, Texas. 

WORCESTER, Mass. (December 14, 2020) – Prior to his sensational performance on the recent Mike Tyson-Roy Jones, Jr. pay-per-view event, undefeated lightweight prospect Jamaine “The Technician” Ortiz was boxing’s best kept secret. No more, though, as Ortiz firmly established himself as a rising star in front of countless fans among the 1.6 million PPV buys.

Ortiz flew from Boston to Los Angeles on Thanksgiving. He was driven to his hotel, where he immediately saw Jones, checked his weight, and walked to Staples Center. “I was comfortable from the start,” said the young fighter who was fighting for the first time as a professional outside of New England. “I was there to get the job done. I was on a mission. I walk to see the Staples Center and that was cool. I later took my run around the Staples Center and there were a lot of statues. It was beautiful. It was cool seeing the Lakers locker-room.”

The 24-year-old Ortiz (14-0, 8 KOs), the reigning World Boxing Youth World champion, knocked out Sulaiman Segawa (13-3-1, 4 KOs) with a bruising body attack, hurting his opponent in the sixth round, and closing the show in spectacular fashion in the seventh for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) USNBC (U.S) Silver lightweight title. Segawa had never been stopped before as a professional.

Ortiz displayed his overall arsenal: stiff jab, lightning quick hands and feet, switching back and forth effortlessly from orthodox to southpaw stances, punishing hooks up and down, and the most lethal body shots seen from a New Englander since “Irish” Micky Ward.

“I was calm and cool before the fight,” Ortiz added. “I like to go into a fight, mentally, like it was a sparring session and I always do good. I started out in an orthodox stance, established my jab and used it a lot. I think I should have used it more and could have beaten him with it. I listened to my coach (Rocky Gonzalez) and he told me when to switch. Body punching is the No. 1 thing with Rocky. I may not have shown it nearly as much in other fights, but he drills that into me all the time. In the sixth round, he told me to go more to the body, not looking to catch him, and in the seventh I really hurt him to the body.

“Segawa was definitely tough. He had beaten a lot of guys, including a few he upset. Every fight is a stepping-stone and I’m my worst critic. I felt that I could have knocked him out in the second round, but I didn’t want to go off the game plan.”

Ortiz set-up Segawa from the opening bell, broke him down, and finished the show in grand style as Seqawa was hurt and trapped on the ropes, drawing kudos from highly respected people in the industry such as “Sugar” Ray Leonard, Teddy Atlas, and others. Ortiz’ fan-base grew exponentially as boxing fans rushed to sign up to follow Jamaine during and after his breakout fight.

“Once people saw me perform and my style,” Ortiz continued, “they liked me. I could have shown more and thrown more combinations. I really needed to fight in front of the world. I got 5,500 new Instagram flowers that night. I guess, I’m no longer the best kept secret in boxing.”

“Our main goal is to win a world title,” Gonzalez commented. “This was fun and a great opportunity, but the motivation to be world champion is stronger. He dealt with this fight as just another fight, and he followed our game plan.

“His body shots set up the ending. I’m always telling him about Micky Ward’s body shots. You know, boxing is a dance, a salsa. Boxers need to dance; I don’t think they should just be orthodox. They all need to fight the other way and when Jamaine switched stances in the third, he never let up. I’ve trained him hard. I’m always on him and what better way to shut me up than ending it like he did on pay per view? It was a drop the microphone moment!”

Ortiz is promoted by Jimmy Burchfield (Classic Entertainment and Sports) and advised by Richard Shappy and Eddie Imondi.

Because of the uncertainty in boxing due to the pandemic, Ortiz’ 2021 schedule is unknown, but he isn’t boxing’s best kept secret anymore, “The Technician” is a bonafide rising star.

EVAN HOLYFIELD (4-0, 3 KOs) talks about his training camp, return to the ring against Donnis Reed in Jonesboro, GA, his dad and Holyfield-Tyson 3.

“I am with a whole new training staff right now, back down in Atlanta where I came up through the amateur ranks, with my former trainers and a new addition of Mark Breland. Everyone around here is like family, even Mark as I got to know him a little better and I’m happy and there is nothing more dangerous than a happy fighter. I am round a lot of good energy and a lot of good people. There have been some tough sparring days and some tough training days. I’ve been working on some new tools with Mark and adding some elements to my game. I feel like I really sacrificed for this camp and I’m anxious to see the results. You are going to see something different and I can’t wait to get in there to show people what I have learned. I’m pretty excited to see what happens.

Above L-R: Bert Wells, Mark Breland, Evan, Courtney Williams, Tony Williams
Below: Breland and Evan Courtesy Evan Holyfield

“I feel like it’s an early Christmas gift and I understand that everybody has not had the opportunity to get a fight this year and I feel like I am really blessed to get the opportunity.

“On Saturday, I know he is going to try and push me but being pushed comes with an evolution of yourself. The last three fights have been a tremendous experience for me, especially the last one going the distance.

“It’s a blessing to have my last name but it is also a blessing to be working towards living up to it

“Could my dad train me? My dad couldn’t train me because he understands it is an investment in time and that’s hard being the way he is and with what he possibly has coming up (Tyson?). Plus it’s not always easy to have the business in the family. If you are a trainer you have to be there all the time. Mark Breland is a dedicated trainer and he is going to be there no matter what part of the day as well as my other trainer Bert Wells. But my dad and me from talking regularly and he is always out there to help when needed. He always tells me to keep a level head, and the work I put in will be the results I get out, be in shape and to do what I do best – always throw combinations and don’t be there to be hit. He’s been by to see training and is pretty impressed with what we’ve been working on. He said to stay focused and work hard and that’s the name of the game. It’s all about staying ready and not getting ready.

“So, my dad training me is out but I do want to spar him one time.”

“I don’t feel like I am following in my dad’s footsteps, I feel like the sport has chosen me. I had my first fight at 8 years old but then my mom took me out of it – she didn’t like seeing her 8 year old child getting hit, so then I went to Taekwondo and was #1 in the nation for about a year. Then I got DQ’d for hitting someone too hard in the head so my dad said maybe you should try boxing where you can’t get DQ’d for hitting someone in the head. But I was getting kicked so I had to put the equalizer on him.

In high school all the kids were investing in one sport and one day I came downstairs and told my mom and dad “I want to do boxing and this is the only sport I want to do.” My dad said, ‘you know people are going to want to hurt you and compare you to me so if you are going to do this do it for yourself.’ I had my ups and downs in the beginning. My mom offered me many times to quit but this is really what I stuck to.

On Tyson and Holyfield-Tyson 3
“I was really impressed with Mike Tyson not having fought for as long as he has. I’ve been watching his YouTube videos and he’s been smoking a lot of weed so I was surprised that he had some wind too. It was good to see because everybody likes Mike Tyson. I didn’t think it was a draw but as long as they came out with good health and had a good time.

“My dad’s been training and getting back into shape and I know it’s something that he’s been wanting. So all of his training we thought was for no reason but it may be paying off. My dad will do what he did the first two times. You know, water and oil don’t always mix. My dad just seems to be Mike Tyson’s oil, so we will just have to see.

“I feel like a third fight with Mike Tyson would be great especially if his ear stays in tact. Of course, I got my pop.

CASSIUS CHANEY (19-0, 13 KOs) fights Jason Bergman (27-18, 18 KOs).

“I had training camp in Miami with Luis Ortiz’ trainer German Caicedo. Training camp was HARD, it was good though, but tough. I know that the sacrifice was there and as long as I am pushing through it and get through the training, I know when I fight it’s going to be easy. But it’s tough on everybody. I know that people are going through those days, like dang, but I’m cool with it.

“German has been around a long time – he has trained Shannon Briggs and has had Luis Ortiz basically his whole career since he came to the America. I went down to German in April to try it out. We stay in the gym. We are in a warehouse. There are seven of us that live there but I am the only American fighter – there is a Cuban, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Panamanian and an African. We are in West Miami and the only place I have ventured out to is Walmart – (laughing) I know where everything is in Walmart now.

“I’m just happy to get back in there, I need to keep busy. My body is getting stronger. The stuff I have been going through in the gym makes me realize, ‘hey, if I can get through this, when I fight, that’s the prize.’ That’s the fun part – when I put it together. I’m rounding out as a professional now.

“I think in 2021 I should have a couple of step up fights. There are some guys out there that make sense but it also has to make sense to them. I’m in a tricky situation. Main Events wants to be careful but they also want me to show them I’m getting better. I think once I hit the TV stream, the fans will enjoy my style. It’s just a matter of me putting in the work.

“I don’t watch the video (of me knocking Joe Caudle out of the ring) but people show it to me all the time or tag me in it. I don’t watch it because I threw so many punches that were so wrong, because I was mad at him. He was talking trash for so long, we were supposed to fight two years prior and it started then. He was going on social media saying he had a body bag for me and my mom saw it and my brother saw it, then after the fight he turns right around and asks me for advice! And I gave it to him!

“So I was sitting on that trash talk for so long that when the fight came around, that’s why my reaction was what it was then I was like, ‘wow, he went out of the ring.’ Then I was like ‘dang, it’s over’ then he tried to get back in the ring and I’m like “this dude is crazy.” I was in shock but then I was more in shock that he was trying to get back in the ring. I think there was a ghost next to him or something to save him from a horrible fall. Then the referee did the right thing.”

Regarding Bergman: “He’s a veteran and seems quite durable. I have to make my presence felt right away, to overwhelm him. I really want to use my jab and work on my range and he really shouldn’t touch me but I really want to be able to get some rounds in and show that I am learning as a professional and doing things different than I did in my last fight – getting better.”

By Norm Frauenheim–

A business always in search of an audience moves on to Errol Spence-Danny Garcia one week after Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr. left questions about where it is headed:

Back to the future.

Or back to nowhere.

For now, at least, it might not be limited to either-or. There are other potential options, like say a stop at the senior-citizen center. A dangerous sport, one seemingly limited to the young and fearless, drew a huge audience last Saturday for a couple of fighters older and vulnerable. Only their name recognition hasn’t eroded. The numbers don’t lie.

I called Tyson-Jones, an exhibition featuring a couple guys in their early fifties, “mostly frivolous.” I was wrong. Nothing frivolous about a reported 1.59 million pay-per-view buys and counting. At $49.99-a-buy, that’s $74.985 million and counting. That’s some serious business.

Spence and Garcia, who are a couple of decades younger, won’t approach that number, especially at a pay-per-view price tag $25 more than the Tyson-Jones fee. At $74.99, it’s hard to guess how many potential PPV customers just won’t buy. Even at the more reasonable price offered by the Tyson-Jones promoter, it’s safe to say that most in the Tyson-Jones audience won’t reach into their pocket.   

Too expensive? Maybe. Still, the most optimistic guess is that the Spence-Garcia welterweight bout this Saturday on Fox will get a fraction of the buys that Tyson-Jones did. Plug in your own guesstimate here. But the reason for the expected small fraction exposes a perilous fault line in today’s boxing business.

There are no proven stars. The potential stars remain unproven, because they don’t fight each other anymore. There’s nothing new about that statement. But the numbers for Tyson-Jones, an exhibition in nostalgia, punctuates it with some powerful evidence. And urgency.

Maybe, Terence Crawford-versus-Spence emerges as a realistic possibility, post-Pandemic, from the Spence-Garcia fight on the Dallas Cowboys homefield in Arlington, Tex. But there are a couple of big ifs attached to that one. Spence has to win while also looking like the fighter he was before he was thrown from his Ferrari in October 2019. He hasn’t fought since then.

Garcia might have been at his best at a lighter weight, 140 instead of 147, but he’s been a giant killer and his counter left could do some real damage in early rounds when a tentative Spence is still trying to regain familiarity with his old work place.

Meanwhile, more senior citizens are bound to get out of their rockers for just a chance at a fraction of the money collected by Tyson, whose purse was reported to be $13 million. Call the bout an exhibition. Call it two guys in a brawl at a backyard barbecue, Snoop Dog’s apt description. Call if whatever. They didn’t pay Monopoly money. The cash real, enough to buy a lot of ribs.

Before Tyson-Jones, Oscar De La Hoya said he would watch carefully. De La Hoya, who turns 48 on Feb. 4, has been talking about a comeback. He had to like the numbers he saw from Tyson-Jones. He could have seen a new revenue stream for his company, Golden Boy Promotions, since the split with Canelo Alvarez.

Already, there are headlines about Evander Holyfield calling out Tyson for a rematch. After all, Holyfield still has one ear to give. There’s Buster Douglas, too, in what would be the inevitable rematch of his 1990 stunner over Tyson, one of the biggest upsets in the last century.

For a few years, there are endless possibilities. No telling what would happen to the rules. Endless possibilities there too. The Tyson-Jones rules were written to prohibit a knockout. In a few more years, a state commission might have to include a rule that you can’t hit your opponent over the head with a cane. OK, I’m getting carried away.

But the point is this: Boxing among seniors with name recognition and notoriety is not sustainable. The business goes nowhere without the younger generation that will fight this Saturday night. The young guns were there in the late 1970s and into the 1980s.

An aging Muhammad Ali fought a wrestler in Tokyo in 1976. George Foreman fought five guys in Toronto in 1975. But the circus came and went, mainly because Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Roberto Duran and Thomas Hearns were there and preparing to fight each other through an era as rich as any in history.

It’s time for history to repeat itself. If it doesn’t, only the business will be history.  

December 1, 2020 (Miami, FL). Former undisputed heavyweight champion Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield says he was confused when Mike Tyson chose to face Roy Jones Jr. and not him for his exhibition-bout comeback… then he watched their fight Saturday night.

“My side tried to make the fight happen and we got nothing but excuses,” said Holyfield. “Now I can see why he wanted a tune-up fight before thinking about fighting me.”

“The Real Deal,” says the idea of an exhibition bout was his. Still in supreme physical condition in his 50s, and training in the gym for months, Holyfield feels Tyson took a practice run Saturday night, but there is only one fight the world wants to see.

“Roy Jones was a good local opponent for Mike,” said the unimpressed Holyfield. “But a fight with me would be a global event and the only fight that anyone wants to see is a fight between us. There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t make it happen.”

By consensus, Tyson got the better of Jones during the eight-round exhibition match at STAPLES Center Saturday night, a fact that Holyfield says clears the way for the pair to finish their historic rivalry the only way they can.

“No more excuses. This is the fight that must happen for both our legacies. Saturday night you said you were ready to fight me, so sign the contract and get in the ring, Tyson. The world is waiting and it’s on you now. I’m ready.”

Legends Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. fought to a draw in their exhibition bout at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Tyson looked to land power shots while Jones fought mostly on the outside. There was a lot of clinching, and neither man was ever in serious danger throughout the fight which consisted of eight-two minute rounds.

Tyson landed 67 of 193 punches. Jones was 37 of 236.

Jake Paul destroys Nate Robinson in 2

Youtube star Jake Paul destroyed former NBA Slam Dunk champion Nate Robinson in round two of their scheduled six-round cruiderweight fight.

Paul drilled Robinson with a booming right that sent him hard to the canvas. Seconds later, Paul landed a perfect combination that sent Robinson out cold and the fight was stopped.

Paul, 189 lbs is 2-0 with two knockouts. Robinson is 0-1.

Jack decisions McKernan

Former world champion Badou Jack pounded away and won an eight-round unanimous decision over Blake McKernan in a cruiserweight bout.

Jack landed 203 of 520 punches; McKernan was 92 of 471.

Jack, 188 3/4 lbs won by scores of 80-72 on all cards, and is now 23-3-2. McKernan, 186 3/4 lbs is 13-1.

Ortiz Stops Segawa in 7

Jamaine Ortiz remained undefeated by stopping Sulaiman Segawa in round seven of their scheduled eight-round lightweight bout.

Ortiz dropped Segawa with a body shot. Segawa tried to fight on but the e fight was stopped at 2:50.

Ortiz, 133 1/2 lbs is now 14-0 with eight knockouts. Segawa, 131 3/4 lbs is 13-3-1.

Edward Vazquez remained undefeated with an eight-round split decision over Irvin Gonzalez in a featherweight bout.

Vazquez, 125 1/4 lbs won two cards 77-75. Gonzalez won a scorecard 77-75.

Vazquez is 9-0. Gonzalez is 14-3.