ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The highly anticipated heavyweight fight between boxing legend Mike Tyson and Jake Paul is set to kick off on Friday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. However, New York sports fans looking to get in on the action will have to be content simply watching the bout, as the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) has banned any wagering on the match.
As of Friday morning, FanDuel Sportsbook odds have Paul, 27, as a -205 favorite over the 58-year-old Tyson. NYSGC's decision to prohibit betting on the fight stems from the match having unconventional rules.
"The New York State Gaming Commission has discretion regarding whether specific sports events are eligible for wagering," NYSGC Director of Communications Brad Maione told NEWS10. "While the fight has been sanctioned as a pro bout by the State of Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the bout has non-traditional rules, including two-minute rounds and 14-ounce gloves, rather than the standard three-minute rounds and 10-ounce gloves. Boxing matches approved for wagering in New York must follow Unified Rules as set by the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports, which call for three-minute rounds and 10-ounce gloves."
Friday's fight will be Tyson's first competitive fight since 2005. The boxing superstar has several connections to the Capital Region, with his professional debut being at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany on March 6, 1985.
He defeated Hector Mercedes in his inaugural match, with the fight being called after only one minute and 47 seconds into the first round. Tyson was also trained by Bobby Stewart at the old Tryon School for Boys in Johnstown and by Cus D'Amato in Catskill.
Both combatants have faced a fair share of controversy in their careers. Tyson served three years in prison for a 1992 rape conviction, and a lawsuit was filed against him in 2023 under the Adult Survivor’s Act which also accused him of rape.
Paul also faced sexual assault and harassment allegations back in 2021. The lead-up to their meeting in the ring intensified on Thursday when Tyson slapped Paul during their final weigh-in.
The match will be exclusively streamed on Netflix, with the full fight card scheduled to start at 8 p.m. The event's featured bouts are as follows:
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