Mike Tyson comes out of professional retirement to take on Jake Paul over eight, two minute rounds at heavyweight at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas in a barely-believable bill-topper on Friday.
Tyson vs Paul is live on Netflix.
This contest counts on both men’s pro records, and has been a while in the making, with Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) having to withdraw from the original July date with an ulcer flare-up.
‘Iron Mike’ has not fought as a professional since 2005, and was certainly in the twilight of his career even then, but at 58, he has drilled himself into shape to take his bout with ‘The Problem Child’ seriously.
Tyson was of course a unified heavyweight champion, but ended his career with three dismal defeats in his last four contests, which were painful early losses to Lennox Lewis, Danny Williams and Kevin McBride.
He has had various exhibition fights since, the most recent in July 2020 when he went eight rounds win Roy Jones Jr.
Paul (10-1, 7 KOs) has carefully selected his opponents as a pro, and since losing a close split decision to Tommy Fury in February 2022, he has won four times, the last a sixth round stoppage of Michael Perry, who had only had one previous professional contest.
Prediction: The best thing to predict here is to expect the unexpected, and it’s difficult to make a prediction with any conviction. The logical choice is for Tyson to give a good account of himself, before Paul takes a points win.
Taylor meets Serrano in rematch
The chief support is the real main event here, with Katie Taylor defending her undisputed super lightweight crown against Amanda Serrano in a rematch of their April 2022 classic.
Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs) took that meeting for the undisputed lightweight title via thin split decision, and since then, Serrano (47-2-1, 31 KOs) dropped back down to featherweight to clean out the division.
The 36-year-old, Puerto Rican was last out in July, ticking over with a second round stoppage of Stevie Morgan in Tampa.
Her Irish rival would go on to fight only three more times, and a move to super lightweight saw her suffer her first defeat, a close majority loss to Chantelle Cameron in Dublin last May.
The 38-year-old would get instant revenge though, taking a majority verdict of her own in a rematch last November.
Prediction: This is a very close contest to call, with Taylor slowing down of late, and both not getting any younger. I favour Taylor at the weight to take a tight win over the distance, likely by split decision.
Barrios battles Ramos
The second of three world title fights on the bill sees Mario Barrios defend his WBC welterweight title against Abel Ramos.
A former WBA champion at super lightweight, Barrios (29-2, 18 KOs) shipped the title to Gervonta Davis in 2021, and then lost to Keith Thurman before rebuilding.
Wins against Yordenis Ugas and Fabian Andres Maidana, both on the cards, saw him hold the interim WBC title, and he was upgraded in June to full champion, making his first defence here.
Ramos (28-6-2, 22 KOs) hardly deserves this shot, having lost three of his last five fights, and is coming into this one off a low-key fifth round stoppage of Juan Ramon Guzman.
Prediction: Barrios can retain on the scorecards.
Green faces Watpool
The vacant WBO super middleweight title is on the line, Shadasia Green, battles Canada’s Melinda Watpool.
Green (14-1, 11 KOs) fell short in her first world title shot, going down on the cards to Franchon Crews-Dezurn for the WBC super middleweight last December, while Watpool (7-0, 2 KOs) receives a maiden world title opportunity.
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Prediction: Green should secure her first world title on the scorecards.
Remaining Undercard
The other ten rounder is at lightweight, where Lucas Bahdi (17-0, 15 KOs) should outscore Armando Casamonica (14-0, 3 KOs).
In the other eight rounder, Bruce Carrington (13-0, 8 KOs) has his fourth contest of the year, and the featherweight can halt Dana Coolwell (13-2, 8 KOs), while the sole six rounder should see middleweight debutant Whindersson Nunes outpoint Neeraj Goyat (18-4-2, 8 KOs).
