Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul fight could be pro fight or exhibition: What's the difference?

Jake Paul has adamantly denied headgear will be worn when he gets into the boxing ring with Mike Tyson. But other aspects of the fight set for July 20 remain unclear − and potentially a big disappointment for those expecting a traditional boxing match.

The rules for the bout, pitting the 27-year-old Paul against the 57-year-old Tyson at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and to be aired by Netflix, could include the following:

• The use of 16-ounce boxing gloves rather than the traditional 10-ounce gloves Tyson used to deliver some of the most devastating knockouts in boxing history.
• Two-minute rounds rather than three-minute rounds.
• No official judges to score the fight.

Those rules would be in effect if the fight is classified as an exhibition rather than a sanctioned pro fight, said Tela Mange, Communications Manager for the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR).

The decision, which is pending, will be made by TDLR interim Executive Director, Brian E. Francis, with the input and advice of the TDLR Combative Sports staff, according to Mange. She also told USA TODAY Sports that an exhibition fight in Texas calls for the heavier boxing gloves, shorter rounds and no judges.

What's next in terms of rules for Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight?

The fight promoter, Holden Boxing LLC, has requested to have an event July 20, according to Mange. But Mange said by email, “we have not received any proposed (fight) cards and thus have no details about what they are planning. All bouts are subject to review and approval by (the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation).’’

Promoters must submit their final cards 21 days before the fight, according to Mange.

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A promoter can request an exhibition or a sanctioned pro bout. Holden Boxing is expected to seek a sanctioned pro fight.

“It’s pretty common for a promoter to request a date several months out but not immediately provide the proposed card,’’ she said. “They want to be sure that they’ve secured the date with us, since we’ll have to make sure we have appropriate staffing available for any event.’’

After publication of the story, Mange said, "The promoter will need to submit proposed cards before we determine whether a particular contest would be considered as an exhibition or a professional fight, or how a proposed exhibition might be structured.''

Bryce Holden, principal at Holden Boxing LLC, did not respond to interview requests from USA TODAY Sports. He is the son of longtime promoter Tony Holden and has handled four events that featured Paul.

How will a decision be made?

After the fight cards are received, Mange said, the Combative Sports staff “evaluates the fight records of the combatants to ensure fighters of approximate skills are paired fairly.’’

Tyson, a two-time world champion, is 50-6 with 44 knockouts and has fought former champions such as Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis and Michael Spinks. But he has not fought professionally since 2005 and he’s 30 years older than Paul.

Paul is 9-1 with six knockouts and is coming off of two first-round knockouts. He has fought only three pro boxers and all were second-tier fighters.

Fighters must undergo the necessary medical tests and combatants over the age of 36 are required to submit favorable results from an electroencephalogram (EEG) and an electrocardiogram (EKG), according to Mange.

 An EEG is used to evaluate brain disorders and an EKG is used to detect heart problems.

“We can also request additional testing if we think it’s appropriate,’’ Mange said.

What were the rules in Mike Tyson's last fight?

In 2020, Tyson fought Roy Jones Jr. in an eight-round exhibition in Los Angeles after the California State Athletic Commission ruled out a sanctioned pro fight.

“I thought an exhibition was appropriate,’’ said Andy Foster, executive director of the commission, who cited the age and activity of the boxers as factors.

Tyson had not fought professionally since 2005. Jones had last fought professionally in 2018 and eight times in the previous three years.

The exhibition rules called for two-minute rounds, typically used for women’s bouts, for a bout held at Crypto.com Arena, then known as the Staples Center.

"I'm not happy at all,’’ Jones said before the fight of the two-minute rounds. “That's for women. Why we doing two-minute rounds?"

Tyson also noted two-minute rounds are used in women’s bouts. But, in referring to the California State Athletic Commission, Tyson also said, "I'm sure they have their reasons for doing it.’’

The rules called for the fighters to use 12-ounce gloves rather than 10-ounce gloves and no official judges were used.

There were no knockdowns and the bout was scored a draw by three celebrity judges.

Who would the exhibition rules favor?

The two-minute rounds would favor Tyson because he wouldn’t have to expend as much energy, according to Kathy Duva, a longtime boxing promoter who in 2019 was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

“The legs are always the first to go,’’ she said of aging fighters. The less time on those legs, the better.

Duva said she thinks Paul would benefit from the 16-ounce gloves, which are typically used in training and believed to have less force on impact than 10-ounce gloves do.

The heavier gloves could neutralize Tyson’s signature power punches, Duva said. Although she added, "You can still knock somebody out with the torque that you generate if you hit them on the chin the right way."

And Tyson has hit a lot of chins.

The Texas Combative Sports Program's decision

Cameron Davies, a boxing promoter from San Antonio, said he’s spoken to a key member of the Texas Combatants Sports staff and is “99 percent’’ certain the Tyson-Paul fight will be classified as an exhibition. Davies said Tyson, by virtue of experience and power, would overwhelm Paul in a sanctioned pro fight.

“All I’ve been told is they (the Combative Sports staff) have to be able to maintain the safety of the fighters,’’ Davies said. “I promise you, they can strip my promoter’s and manager’s license if I’m wrong, there’s no way in hell they will ever make this a sanctioned fight.’’

The TDLR rules state, “Combative sports promoters must strictly adhere to the rules and regulations concerning the combative sports industry in Texas, which has the most comprehensive set of industry safety measures in the United States today.''

Adolfo Martinez, a boxing promoter from Laredo, Texas, who’s in his 15^th year as the CEO of Triple-A Promotions, said he agrees safety is a priority with the Combative Sports staff and doesn’t think a sanctioned pro fight should be approved.

But, unlike Davies, Martinez said he think Paul’s youth and strength could create safety issues for Tyson.

Concussion experts weigh in

Two experts on concussions say Tyson could be more susceptible to a concussion because of his boxing history, which includes 56 fights and two losses by knockout.

“I think the things that a person might be concerned about in any individual case is one, what damage to the brain has been accumulated so far through their lifetime, particularly a former fighter,’’ said Charles Bernick, a neurologist with the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.

Steven Broglio, director of the the Concussion Center and NeuroTrauma Research at the University of Michigan, said, “Once you’ve had one injury you’re more like to have a second, and once you’ve had a second you’re more likely to have a third type of thing.’’

Both of the researchers also agreed that two-minute rounds would favor Tyson. But neither said exhibition rules should be in place.

“I would leave it up to the commission to make the choice as to whether or not Tyson is at such great risk that it is not safe for him to fight in a competition and it needs to be an exhibition,’’ Broglio said. “Without knowing the details of everything in that file or in that application, there’s way for me to really judge.’’

If the due diligence is done before the fight, Bernick said, the risk of brain injury probably is “not a big deal.’’

 “I just don’t know if there’s enough evidence to say, all right, in general this should never happen," he said of a fight between boxers with such a significant difference in age. “It’s one of these things where it becomes a judgment call.’’