Mike Tyson’s upcoming return to the boxing ring against Jake Paul this summer is already generating significant buzz, with ticket prices skyrocketing and considerable interest from bettors.
Set for July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and to be globally streamed on Netflix, this bout is anticipated to be the most heavily wagered-on boxing match of the year.
Fans are eagerly vying for tickets to witness the clash between the former heavyweight champion Tyson, aged 58 at the time, and the 27-year-old social media influencer turned boxer, Paul.
Scheduled as an 8-round professional bout, each round will consist of two minutes. While Tyson’s last fight was an exhibition match in 2020, his last professional bout dates back to 2005.
In addition to the main event, the card will feature a matchup between lightweight world champion Katie Taylor and unified featherweight champion Amanda Serrano.
Notably, Taylor and Serrano previously headlined the first sold-out women’s boxing event at Madison Square Garden.
Most Valuable Promotions, co-owned by Paul and responsible for promoting the event, has reported over 121,000 fans signing up for presale access. Official ticket sales commence next Thursday.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime event that literally touches six generations,” stated Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of MVP.
Bidarian revealed significant interest in premium seating options, with 35,000 expressing interest in floor seats and over 10,000 in VIP seats.
MVP is offering a unique $2 million VIP package, including unprecedented perks such as ringside seats, pre-fight locker room photos with both fighters, and luxury penthouse accommodations.
“We’re aiming to revitalize interest in boxing on a grand scale,” Bidarian emphasized.
For those unable to afford the VIP package, secondary market sites like Gametime offer tickets starting at $357, with ringside seats fetching $8,067 each.
Gambling activity surrounding the fight has surged, with BetMGM already accepting bets. While Jake Paul is currently favored (-145), 70% of bets favor Tyson.
Alex Rella, senior trader at BetMGM, anticipates broad demographic interest in the bout, ranging from Tyson supporters to casual sports fans, making it a prime candidate for the most bet-on boxing match of the year.
Financial details of the fight and Netflix’s involvement have not been disclosed. Netflix will stream the event to all subscribers for free, further solidifying its foray into sports content.
Bidarian expects Tyson and Paul to earn eight-figure sums from the event and aims for it to become the most-watched streaming sports event in the U.S.
