Jake Paul and Mike Tyson's highly anticipated boxing match at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, has sparked significant controversy regarding its legitimacy, with the weigh-in further fueling skepticism.

The matchup pits 27-year-old Jake Paul against 58-year-old Mike Tyson, who hasn't fought professionally since 2005. Tyson's last professional fight ended in retirement against Kevin McBride, where he openly admitted to fighting solely for financial gain.

Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) co-founder Nakisa Bidarian strongly denies allegations of the fight being scripted, emphasizing that staging a fraudulent fight would constitute a federal crime. However, Thursday's weigh-in raised eyebrows when Tyson unexpectedly slapped Paul—an unprecedented action in his career.

Nine state gaming regulators have banned their sportsbooks from accepting bets on the contest, including Colorado, Connecticut, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. Nevada, however, approved the fight for betting after it passed their "three-prong test."

Safety modifications include the use of 14-ounce gloves instead of standard 10-ounce ones to provide additional protection, particularly for the 58-year-old Tyson.

The event has already broken records, generating over $15 million in ticket sales with 60,000+ tickets sold—the highest boxing gate outside of Las Vegas. Paul is set to earn $40 million, while Tyson will receive $21 million, though he claims money isn't his motivation.

The fight will be sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and Texas Athletic Commission, with three licensed judges scoring the bout. Despite official sanctioning, speculation persists that the match may be more exhibition than competition, designed primarily for entertainment value.

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