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As excitement builds over the upcoming Mike Tyson – Jake Paul bout, some fans and experts are beginning to wonder what the two fighters’ plans are after they step in to the ring on Nov. 15. Sure, this highly-anticipated fight is still roughly two months away, but we have seen plenty of intrigue around Paul and Tyson’s lives as they prepare for one of the biggest bouts of 2024.
For Tyson, the former heavyweight champion has a business empire to which he can return following the Paul fight — his first in 19 years. Paul’s plans had been less clear, as the 27-year-old is relatively new to the worlds of competitive boxing and mixed martial arts.
Paul ready to walk away from the ring
In explosive remarks ahead of the Paul-Tyson fight at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Professional Fighters League CEO Peter Murray has claimed that Paul is set to “turn his back” on boxing after fighting Tyson and move on to MMA next year.
“We’re lining it up, Jake is finishing up boxing this year with this massive fight against Mike Tyson then a lot of planning is going into Jake Paul’s debut in 2025 and we’ll be sharing those details,” Murray said.
In 2023, Paul signed a multi-year contract with PFL, becoming the first MMA fighter signed to its new PFL PPV Super Fights division. Paul previously had indicated he would debut in the PFL late in calendar year 2024, affording him plenty of time to prepare for a different kind of fighting. However, since the Tyson fight was pushed to November following Iron Mike’s ulcer flare-up, Paul’s PFL debut will now take place next year against an as-yet unspecified opponent.
The news gives Paul the chance to leave boxing in a blaze of glory — should he defeat Tyson in November. To date, Paul has won 10 of his 11 official fights, most recently defeating Mike Perry in July. For Tyson, the Paul bout becomes an opportunity to banish the Problem Child from boxing for good — adding to Iron Mike’s motivation after so many years away from the ring.
