Mike Tyson’s clash against Jake Paul remains one of the most highly anticipated boxing matches maybe ever. As a fairly unconventional game because of the participants’ age difference, the match promises an unexpected outcome, dividing bettors on who would actually win.
The Clash Is Just Around the Corner
The polarizing game has divided bettors and sports aficionados alike. While some trust in Mike Tyson’s confident nature and decades-long experience, others doubt that he will be able to overcome the dramatic age difference.
Tyson, 58, is some 31 years older than Paul, who is 27. Additionally, Paul’s controversial status has further nurtured the loyalty of Tyson’s fans. However, when it comes to betting, Tyson is still the underdog.
Interestingly, even though Tyson is the underdog, he has attracted significantly more money in wagers on sportsbooks such as Caesars, DraftKings and the Westgate SuperBook. USA TODAY Sports consulted operators on the matter and learned that 67% of the money wagered has been bet on Tyson winning.
Sportsbooks officials, however, did not disclose the total money bettors have put on the line.
The game is set to take place on November 15. It was originally scheduled for July but postponed after Tyson suffered an ulcer flare up.
Many Casual Bettors Are Backing the Underdog
Sportsbook representatives spoke with USA TODAY Sports on the matter, expressing their thoughts about the upcoming game.
Brandon Yeager, Caesars’ lead sports combat oddsmaker, said that the odds reflect Tyson’s decade-long popularity and Paul’s controversial nature. He suggested that people put their money in, hoping to see Paul lose and cash out.
While big cashouts await Tyson’s backers if he wins, sportsbooks would win big if Paul prevails. Yeager, for one, isn’t entirely convinced if the former has the ability to score a victory.
Jay Kornegay, the executive vice president of the Westgate SuperBook, told the news outlet that Paul’s unexciting betting odds aren’t helping him attract wagers either. He pointed out that, on average, a person would need to bet $300 – a sum that casual players won’t be willing to put on the line – for a profit of around $100.
Veteran bettor Gianni Karalis, meanwhile, noted that there is a “lot stacked up against Mike Tyson.” However, he added that recreational bettors would not care about this so much. Because of this, sportsbooks now have the “perfect storm for a lot of betting action on the underdog.”
Teddy Sevransky, another experienced bettor, told USA TODAY Sports that he won’t be betting on this one because of the “enormous amount of uncertainty.” He said that he is equally unsure whether Paul can beat anyone and whether Tyson still has it in him to win.
In the meantime, companies are taking measures against sharp betting by setting up limits on early bets.