Jake Paul is back in the spotlight, and this time his antics have raised serious concerns about state regulations and their role in controlling fight outcomes. The controversy stems from a seemingly lighthearted bet Paul made with former boxing champion Mike Tyson, which quickly attracted attention due to its potential regulatory implications.
The situation began when Paul, 27, took to social media and proposed a wager: if Tyson could last more than four rounds in their upcoming fight, Paul would pay him $5 million. However, if Tyson failed to make it past the fourth round, he would have to get a tattoo saying “I love Jake Paul.” While the offer was made in jest, questions arose regarding the legality of such a wager under the rules of the sports commission overseeing the fight.
Canadian lawyer Erik Magraken was the first to bring the issue to light, pointing out that the bet could influence the fight’s outcome. Magraken argued that the wager seemed to suggest that Tyson should not attempt to knock Paul out in the early rounds, raising concerns about the fairness of the match. “Jake Paul betting Mike Tyson $5 million if he makes it past the 4th round seems like Jake saying, ‘Don’t try to KO me in the early rounds.’ If I was a regulator, I’d have questions,” Magraken wrote.
This prompted veteran boxing promoter Lou DiBella to weigh in, questioning how the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), which is responsible for overseeing the fight, could allow such a bet. DiBella, a member of the Boxing Hall of Fame, called for the wager to be banned, particularly given the professional nature of the bout. “C’mon now! Is there no state regulation? If this is a professional bout, with legal sportsbooks taking action on it, this kind of ‘side bet’ has to be prohibited. PERIOD,” DiBella remarked.
The fight is set to take place in Arlington, Texas, and it was expected that the Texas Commission would intervene if it deemed the bet inappropriate. However, when Magraken inquired directly with the Commission about the legality of the wager, the TDLR responded that Paul’s actions were not subject to regulation. The Commission explained that it does not oversee “private agreements made by a licensed contestant,” giving Paul the green light to proceed with the bet.
Despite the Commission’s ruling, Magraken pointed out that the optics of the situation remained problematic. He noted that while the fight is considered a professional bout, and not an exhibition, the presence of a side deal that could potentially impact the fight’s outcome was not a good look for the sport. “Texas says this is a professional bout. Not an exhibition. You can bet on it. If you have a real sporting event with attempted side deals that can impact its outcome, that’s not a good look,” Magraken added.
In the end, the bet between Paul and Tyson stands, adding another layer of intrigue to the already highly anticipated fight. Whether Tyson will make it past the fourth round or Paul will walk away with an extra win remains to be seen, with the bout set to take place on November 15. Fans will have to wait until then to see who comes out on top in this unconventional wager.
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