Tyson Vs. Paul Contingent On Iron Mike Passing Medical Tests

IRON MIKE TYSON HAS TO PASS AGE-RELATED MEDICAL TESTS BEFORE HE CAN FIGHT JAKE PAUL

I gotta say I’m still surprised that this fight was even remotely possibly happening. Mike Tyson has become an accomplished man of business at the age of 57, which isn’t something I thought I’d write even a few years ago. But Mike survived, well, himself, and a fair amount of tumultuous history. And let’s be fair, he married Robin Givens and managed to somehow survive. But Mike Tyson has been scheduled to fight Jake Paul, who is in prime fighting shape at the much younger age of 27. I’m not sure which of them to be afraid for. But it seems the July 20^th fight is now contingent on Tyson passing some key medical tests.

TYSON MEDICAL TESTS MAY CANCEL FIGHT, OR MAKE IT AN EXHIBITION INSTEAD OF PROFESSIONAL

I’m not opposed to the logic of age-based medical tests needing to be passed before Tyson is cleared to fight. But I’m less clear on this logic suddenly being applied after the fight has already been scheduled. It’s not as if older boxers haven’t stepped back into the ring before. Are these tests to protect Tyson, or did the various insurance companies quietly whisper of the risks of liability if something goes wrong for the middle-aged Iron Mike? We’ll find out soon enough. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (the TDLR) will run the tests on Tyson. And the results will decide if the fight is cancelled altogether, or whether the fight will be an exhibition rather than professional.

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IF MIKE WANTS TO FIGHT, I SAY LET HIM, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE HE STILL HAS A CHANCE TO WIN

So what’s the difference between professional and exhibition fights? Pro fights use 10oz gloves; exhibition 16oz gloves. As you might imagine, the bigger gloves significantly reduce the power of punches. Pro fights have 3-minute rounds; exhibition 2-minute rounds. And, lastly, exhibition fights have no judges because there’s no official winner. I’m not sure what I’m hoping happens. I’m a bit of a Tyson fan and proud of what he’s made of his life despite major hurdles. If he wants to fight, I say go for it. And if it happens, you’ll be able to tune in on Netflix on July 20^th, which will broadcast the fight from the AT&T Stadium in Dallas.

You know you’re getting old when a boxing story has nothing, whatsoever, to do with Don King.