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The “old lion versus young lion” adage in boxing is as old as the sport itself, but the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight, which takes place at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on November 15, has taken things to a whole new level.
When 45-year-old George Foreman took on 26-year-old heavyweight champion Michael Moorer in Las Vegas on November 5, 1994, the nineteen-year age gap was roundly lambasted.
However, opposing fans and media were quick to heat up some humble pie in The George Foreman Grill when the older man scored a sensational 10th-round knockout.
MORE: Mike Tyson's best knockouts ranked
Fast-forward 30 years and things have got a lot crazier.
While Foreman once returned to boxing following a 10-year layoff, Tyson has been out of action for almost 20 years. And while Foreman challenged legitimate heavyweight champions, Tyson will earn millions against a YouTube star and novice pro.
The Sporting News takes a deep dive into the age gap between these participants and adds some context on how unrealistic an idea Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson should have been.
How old is Mike Tyson?
Mike Tyson was born in Brooklyn, New York, on June 30, 1966, making him 58 years old.
The oldest fighter to have boxed professionally is Englishman Steve Ward, who was 59 when he was stopped by Jody Meikle in December 2015.
Ironically enough, Tyson still holds the record of being the youngest heavyweight champion of all time. In November 1986, “Iron” Mike scored a stunning second-round TKO over Trevor Berbick to win the WBC title.
When Tyson was born, a 24-year-old Muhammad Ali was in his prime and reigned as heavyweight champion.
How old is Jake Paul?
Jake Paul was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on January 17, 1997, making him 27 years old.
Paul made his bones as a social media personality when he was a teenager, utilizing such platforms as YouTube and Vine. He achieved incredible success in this area and is one of the world’s most famous influencers.
“The Problem Child” turned to boxing in his early 20s when he faced fellow YouTuber Deji Olatunji in an amateur fight. Shortly thereafter, he was able to secure a professional license and his record stands at 10-1 (7 KOs).
When Paul was born, Tyson was in the middle of a two-fight rivalry with Holyfield and his championship years were already behind him.
Mike Tyson health scare
The Paul vs. Tyson fight was originally supposed to take place on July 20, 2024, but that date fell through when Tyson suffered an ulcer flareup on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles in May.
Paramedics treated the former champion before removing him from the flight and he was taken to hospital as a routine precaution.
It was later announced by his representatives that Tyson “was doing great” and that he’d appreciated the medical staff who were there to help him.
After Tyson was cleared to recommence training, the Paul fight was rescheduled for November 15 at the same venue.
MORE: ‘The fight is the party’: Focused Mike Tyson looks sharp
When was Mike Tyson's last match?
The last time Mike Tyson entered the ring as a professional was June 11, 2005, against Irish journeyman Kevin McBride at the MCI Center in Washington.
As always, Tyson started fast, blasting home big shots to head and body in the early rounds. However, McBride had a 38-pound weight advantage and soaked up all the punishment.
Moving into round six, Tyson appeared discouraged and went down more from exhaustion than anything else. Trainer and former two-weight world champion Jeff Fenech pulled the former champion out of the fight at the end of the round.
"I don't have the guts to be in this sport anymore," Tyson said during his post-fight interview.
"I don't want to disrespect the sport that I love. My heart is not into this anymore. I'm sorry for the fans who paid for this.”
Who could have guessed then that Tyson would return to action almost two decades later?
MORE: Why is Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson happening?
How did Mike Tyson get a boxing license?
Who would grant Mike Tyson a professional boxing license? Look no further than the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations.
Before the original July 20 date, Tyson took to his official Instagram account to let fans know that his battle with Paul would indeed be an authentic fight with no punches pulled.
“Yes it’s a real sanctioned fight with @JakePaul” was the short and sweet message.
That remains the case heading into November 15.
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