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In an 8-round fully sanctioned fight, Jake Paul and Mike Tyson will meet in the main event Friday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (Netflix). The main event will feature 2-minute rounds rather than 10 or 12 rounds of 3 minutes. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Paul vs. Tyson odds, and make our expert boxing picks and predictions.
Records: Paul (10-1-0, 7 KOs) | Tyson (50-6-0, 44 KOs)
Paul, a.k.a “The Problem Child”, made a name for himself as a YouTube sensation. There were a lot of detractors when it came to his endeavors in the ring, but he has slowly started to win people over by taking down some of the top combat sports fighters.
Paul has defeated the likes of Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley (twice), Anderson Silva and Nate Diaz, among others. He did suffer a loss to Tommy Fury at the Diriyah Arena in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 23, 2023, losing in the cruiserweight bout in a Pay-Per-View event. Paul was able to go the distance with the 23-year-old full-time boxer, though, and it might have been his most impressive showing despite the loss.
As far as “Iron Mike” Tyson is concerned, he is a Hall of Fame boxer. This fight was originally scheduled for the summer, but an ulcer with internal bleeding led to the postponement. At 58 years old, there are a lot of doubters that he will still bring the same kind of punching power he had from his days as champion. He enters the ring 31 years the elder of Paul, too, while Tyson has a 5-inch disadvantage in terms of reach.
The fighters will be wearing 14-ounce gloves, which is 4 ounces heavier than what most heavyweights typically wear. These are the kind of gloves usually worn during sparring for added protection. As such, this could be the most important factor when looking to determine a winner.
Paul vs. Tyson odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:38 a.m. ET.
- Fight result (2-way line): Paul -205 (bet $205 to win $100) | Tyson +164 (bet $100 to win $164)
- Over/Under: 5.5 rounds (Over -112 | Under -112)
- Will the fight go the distance? (Yes +146 | No -186)
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Paul vs. Tyson picks and predictions
Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)
This event on Netflix is for eyeballs, and for pure boxing enthusiasts it might be a little difficult to watch. MMA has taken off, and is the most watched combat sport now, and boxing has been dying for years. As such, Paul is looking to breathe new life, and bring attention, to the sweet science.
However, there are a few things going on there. First off, this won’t be the last time we see these 2 fight. In fact, I am expecting a trilogy, as the attention surrounding this event has just been too great. I am also expecting that TYSON (+164) uses his skill and experience to stay upright, and show why he has his nickname of “Iron Mike”, even at 58 years old. There will then be another fight. And another, until the public no longer wants to see it.
Over/Under (O/U)
In addition to Tyson getting the job done in what I expect to be the first of a few fights between these 2 fighters, look for OVER 5.5 ROUNDS (-112) to be a slam-dunk play.
There are few reasons for this play. First off, the gloves, with a lot more cushion, will negate some of Paul’s punching power. He is, after all, 31 years younger, and he has been getting a lot better in terms of his fighting skill and punching power. This kid takes things seriously, and is not a joke like a lot of stuck-up boxing purists think. But the glove weight will play a big role in keeping Tyson from eating too big of punches.
And, Tyson will put on a show. He might have lost a few steps, and he isn’t the spry young piece of iron he used to be. But, he still is a smart fighter, and he knows how to avoid walking into a big blow. The reach advantage for Paul aside, Tyson will be smart enough to protect himself, and avoid being knocked out.
I am not saying this will be a boring fight, but it will be decided on technique and points, not a knockout. As such, YES: WILL THE FIGHT GO THE DISTANCE? (+146) at plus-money is a very attractive play.
And, definitely play TYSON ON POINTS (+900) for the chance to multiply up by 9 times.
Visit Boxing Junkie for more fight news and analysis.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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