Mike Tyson and Jake Paul will fight each other in a sanctioned match this evening
Boxing fans in 19 US states have been banned from placing bets on the upcoming fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson.
Three major rule changes were approved for the sanctioned fight, including shorter rounds and heavier boxing gloves.
The highly-anticipated bout between undisputed heavyweight champion Tyson, 58, and social media personality Paul, 27, is now just hours away.
On Friday (November 15), prolific sportsman Tyson is set to come face-to-face with Jake Paul, who serves as his first pro opponent since his shock defeat to Ireland’s Kevin McBride in 2005.
The match is a long time coming, with ‘Iron’ Mike vs ‘The Problem Child’ initially delayed earlier this year when Tyson suffered a health emergency.
Tyson v Paul has been four years in the making (Brett Carlsen/Getty Images for Netflix 2024)
But after months of anticipation, the pair and thousands of dedicated fans will descend on the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, tonight.
Those who didn’t fancy forking out $2 million for a VIP ticket can catch all the action on Netflix, with coverage of the full fight card commencing from 8pm ET.
Fight purses have not been officially disclosed for the match, but Paul claimed at an August press conference in August: “I’m here to make $40m and knock out a legend.”
Meanwhile Tyson is said to earn around $20m for the fight, according to friend and former UFC champion Henry Cejudo.
But fans hoping to cash in on the major boxing event in some 19 states will be in for a shock.
Fans in major states won’t be able to cash in on tonight’s fight (Boy_Anupong/Getty Images)
While sports wagering is legalized in some 38 states, not all are taking bets on the fight.
New York, Pennsylvania, and Colorado are the ‘big three’ of seven states refusing bets on the fight, as New York State Gaming Commission slammed the fight’s ‘non-traditional rules’.
Meanwhile, 12 other states are yet to legalize betting, including Texas, where the fight will commence.
Other states include Alabama, Alaska, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Utah.
Even in the states that are accepting bets, there are worries that there could be a backlash if either is seen as treating the fight as an ‘exhibition’ instead of a competitive boxing match.
The bets continue to pour in, and although Tyson looks impressive in his training, he’s currently the underdog at +185.
In those states where betting is being accepted, some are destined to make a small fortune on the sporting event of the year.
