Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson is eager to knock out YouTube star Jake Paul—and he plans to do it comfortably. ‘Iron’ Mike recently explained why both fighters will wear 14-ounce gloves in their upcoming professional bout, instead of the standard 10-ounce gloves typically used in the heavyweight division. 

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, which oversees combat sports in the state, made a special exception for the Netflix exclusive bout, allowing them to have the heavier gloves, and shorter two-minute rounds, instead of the usual three-minute rounds. It’s rare for the sport to see such professional boxing matches, Tela Mange, Communications Manager for the TDLR, revealed.

However, “If two contestants request terms that do not represent a safety issue, and are not in violation of statute and/or rules, then we can agree to regulate the event and ensure those terms are enforced,” she added. It’s believed that these changes to the rules were specifically made to give Tyson an edge over ‘The Problem Child’ and mitigate any safety concerns. 

There seemed to be some truth to it, as shorter rounds meant Tyson would have to expend less energy while the heavier gloves could help reduce the damage. But according to ‘Iron’ Mike, that doesn’t seem to be the case. While appearing in an interview with Greta Van Susteren from Newsmax recently, ‘The Baddest Man on the Planet’ claimed the real reason behind bigger gloves is his comfort. 

“Well, you know, most of the gloves that are ten ounces—they don’t fit my hand properly,” Tyson told Susteren when asked about it. “And the 14-ounce, they don’t fit that well either. But they’re comfortable enough.” Meanwhile, the 58-year-old came up with an interesting answer when asked about the age difference between him and Paul. 

Mike Tyson tackles the ‘age’ question with brains

One of the angles critics of the fight are holding on to is the 31-year age difference between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson. Paul is 27, and Tyson is 58, as the duo prepares to get in the ring on Friday night. Susteren, who is also a lawyer, probed Tyson on the same topic during their interview, asking him about his thoughts on the matter. 

Tyson quickly came up with a question of his own for Susteren to tackle the question. “I don’t think about that,” he said. “Do you compare your age to a younger woman and think she’s superior to you just with her age?” He further asked whether a fresh-out-of-law school graduate would have better knowledge of law compared to Susteren, forcing the anchor to back off. 

That said, Mike Tyson seems to be tired of people criticizing the rules in his upcoming fight against Jake Paul at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. While Tyson claims the heavier gloves are just for his comfort, only time will tell whether they make him comfortable or save him from taking damage. Do you agree with Tyson’s statement?