There is a reason behind the controversial rule changes for Mike Tyson’s fight against Jake Paul.
The changes have left many fans feeling furious as the match between the boxer and the YouTuber approaches.
They are due to go head to head on Friday (November 15) at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
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However, there is a difference in this fight with traditional boxing matches and that’s the length of each round.
This showdown will be contested over eight two-minute rounds, rather than the traditional three-minute rounds.
This was a request put forward by Tyson to the local commission and it was approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations.
The reasoning behind it is that Tyson believes the shorter rounds will bring more action and make it a more entertaining event.
When asked why he wanted to modify the match, he said: “I wanted shorter rounds for more action. If we have shorter rounds, we’ll fight more. More action.”
On the rule request, Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions, added: “It was [Tyson's] choice, not that Jake didn't want to do it [as a sanctioned fight].
“We were bringing Mike Tyson back into the sport, and I believe that it was more meaningful as a pro fight.”
However, this isn’t the only rule change.
There will be eight rounds instead of 12 and the pair will be wearing 14-ounce gloves instead of the standard 10-ounce gloves worn in a heavyweight fight.
It has been said that the heavier the glove is, the more padding and shock absorption they have.
Many fans have taken to social media to share their reactions to the rule changes, with some believing that it will tip the fight in the favor of one of the boxers.
One user wrote: “The two minute rule is HUGE. At Tyson's age, a two minute sprint, one minute recovery is much easier than three on, one off.”
But others think it’s skewed for Paul, and when someone asked if they think the fight is legit, another added: “Nope. Two minute rounds. Heavier more padded gloves! This is strictly built for entertaining Jake’s fans. That being said, Tyson in 2.”
The fight was originally set to take place in July but had to be rescheduled due to Tyson suffering health issues.
The pair are expected to begin their ring walks at 11pm ET on November 15 and the fight will be streamed live on Netflix.
