It’s the kind of contest you’d expect to happen only in an alternate universe, but here we are in 2024, preparing for Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson, an “exhibition” boxing bout scheduled for July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
With Paul, the inexperienced fighter of the two, entering this contest as a -155 betting favorite among the top-rated sportsbooks, we had no choice but to investigate the preliminary boxing odds for this unexpected clash.
That said, join us today as we preview Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson from a betting perspective.
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson
Saturday, July 20, 2024 – 09:00 PM ET at AT&T Stadium
Odds to Win the Fight
“The Problem Child” Is a Problem
To this day, it still feels strange to refer to Jake Paul as a boxer. However, through thick and thin, the Ohio native who was once categorized as a ‘Social Media Boxer’ has stuck to his guns of wanting to become a legitimate boxer. While his peers took their cash and ran off into the sunset, he continued competing in the ring on a regular basis.
Of course, earning the respect of the boxing community isn’t going to arise from challenging Mike Tyson. It’s a trick Paul has pulled out of his sleeve since his early career, as five of his nine “pro” wins were against opponents aged 38 and up.
A trend of challenging semi- or fully-retired MMA fighters put Paul’s boxing legacy on the map. He picked apart the likes of Tyron Woodley (twice), Ben Askren, Anderson Silva, and, most recently, Nate Diaz.
Paul vs. Tyson: Detering From the Gameplan
The game plan for Paul was obvious: compete against old fighters who don’t possess a background in boxing, and the results would likely go his way.
Paul, 27, recently took a detour from bullying slow, old, and battle-worn professional mixed martial artists because he aspired to be “legitimate”. In stepped Andre August and Ryan Bourland, two “professional” boxers. Jake defeated them and was then able to claim he was taking the correct steps in his career.
Unfortunately for him, he’s all about the money, and these contests generated little to no interest. So, now, he’s back at it again, only this time, he’s taken his fight selection a step further by challenging a nearly sixty-year-old Mike Tyson to come out of retirement.
Jake Paul's Path to Fame
For Paul to continue his revenue-generating ways, he needs the name value instead of him in the ring. Of course, he’ll enter as a betting favorite when fighting Grandads, and he needs every advantage possible to secure a win and future money-making opportunities that can continue this fraudulent moment in combat sports.
Just look what happened when Paul faced a boxer of his own size and age… Tommy Fury exposed “The Problem Child,” whose ego clearly thought he was prepared for this setting. Fury isn’t even that much of a noteworthy boxer himself, but once the outlying factors such as speed, age, and size were equal, Paul crumbled like trodden on a packet of chips.
The Tyson bout, airing on Netflix, will naturally garner huge attention. It’s a sideshow for the masses, but are the betting lines a huge trap?
Betting Jake Paul at -155
Top sportsbooks like BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review) are tempting us with a -155 price on Jake Paul, but in all honestly, it could be a wise choice to pounce.
When the bout was announced on July 20, most critics thought Tyson would be the favorite. The former heavyweight champion, however, is now the underdog in the eyes of the bookies.
Only Tyson has posted training camp recordings, while Paul has remained mum about his own plans. Tyson looks healthy and muscular for someone 57 years old, but will his cardio keep up with a young and hungry ego maniac in front of him?
He has plainly communicated to Paul that he should not underestimate him despite their 30-year age disparity. Now, Paul has become the favorite, while the bookmakers still remain unconvinced by Tyson's training results.
Legendary Legacy vs. Youthful Vigor
Training footage and in-ring abilities are two different worlds. Of course, Tyson will be the most legendary boxer Paul has faced, but to keep the pace with a 27-year-old when you’re on the brink of reaching your sixties seems far-fetched, to say the least.
Due to his previous career as a top heavyweight, during which he achieved 44 career knockouts, oddsmakers initially granted him leniency. Some odds gave him a 1/2 price despite his absence from the boxing ring. The bookmakers established Paul's odds at 2 to 1, indicating that anyone who placed bets on him in the early stages received some excellent value.
The current probabilities in this bout are far closer, and it’s easy to see why.
*The line and/or odds in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
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