Paul a heavy favourite, but public backing Tyson ahead of boxing match

It’s been nearly 20 years since Mike Tyson last stepped in the ring for a sanctioned boxing match. 

He was 38 on June 5, 2005 and lost to Kevin McBride after Tyson called an end to the fight after the sixth round. 

"I do not have the guts to be in this sport anymore,” Tyson said following the fight. “I don't want to disrespect the sport that I love. My heart is not into this anymore. I'm sorry for the fans who paid for this. I wish I could have done better."

Tyson kept true to his word about not wanting to be involved in the sport and for 19 years, hasn’t stepped foot in the ring again. 

And then Jake Paul entered the equation. 

Described as “an American professional boxer, actor and YouTuber,” Paul was first introduced to the entertainment industry through social media over 10 years ago. 

In 2013, he was one of the biggest stars on Vine. In 2014, he launched a YouTube channel which has since grown to over 20 million subscribers. 

In 2016, Paul was a cast member on a Disney channel show (Bizaardvark) before leaving the show and launching his own media company. 

Fast forward a few years, and Paul is now dipping his toe into the boxing scene, winning his first match over fellow content creator AnEsonGib in January 2020. 

Since then, Paul has fought 11 times, going 10-1 with three knockouts. The former Vine star has also added wins over Anderson Silva, Nate Diaz and, most recently, Mike Perry to his resume. 

His lone loss came in February 2023 when he dropped a split decision to Tommy Fury. 

Now, Paul will get in the ring with the biggest (by name brand) opponent he could face. And the odds suggest it's going to be a good night for him. 

Here is a closer look at the odds and some betting splits on FanDuel for Paul v. Tyson this Friday. 

Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson 

Paul is currently a -210 favourite to beat Tyson on FanDuel Sportsbook, which carries an implied probability of 67.74 per cent. 

The fight is +146 to go the distance.

In 56 career fights, Tyson has only had seven go the distance, while only four of Paul’s 11 fights have reached the final bell. 

Paul is +140 to win by knockout. On the other side, Tyson is +240 to knock out Paul, something he hasn’t done to an opponent since 2002.

ROBIN BLACK ON TYSON'S PATH TO VICTORY 

As Robin Black explains, "The more time spent (in the middle of the ring), the worse it is for the 58-year-old. But if Tyson can use his decades of experience to lure Paul into the dangerous areas, such as against the ropes, the corner of the ring, or areas with nowhere to move. That's where Tyson's power can best be used. 

Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson Betting Splits and specials 

While Tyson is the underdog, he has the public on his side with 86 per cent of the bets on FanDuel, according to the traders. 

However, despite the high volume of bets on Tyson, the handle tells a different story with the 58-year-old holding a slight lead of 53 per cent. 

So the tickets on Paul are few and far between, but they are big money plays according to these numbers.