In what is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about boxing matches in recent memory, Mike Tyson and Jake Paul are set to step into the ring this Friday.

The fight, which pits 58-year-old Tyson against 27-year-old Paul, was initially announced back in March, just before Anthony Joshua’s bout with Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia. However, the original date of July 20 had to be postponed when Tyson fell ill on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles, forcing him to delay the match.

The heavyweight icon suffered an inflamed ulcer and collapsed after coughing up blood. He was rushed to the hospital where he even asked the doctor if he would live or die.

Despite this health scare, the fight with Paul was rescheduled for this coming Friday, and Tyson has since returned to training in preparation for his first fight in four years and his first professional match in nearly two decades.

As we count down to the opening bell, let’s take a look at the rules for the fight, some of which may surprise even the most seasoned boxing fans…

1. Rounds

Tyson and Jake Paul are set to face off in an eight-round bout, each round lasting two minutes, despite the match being promoted as a professional fight. Typically, heavyweight fights feature three-minute rounds, but this match will follow the same rules as Tyson’s 2020 fight with Roy Jones Jr.

Tyson himself insisted on the shorter rounds, not due to his age, but for more action. “I wanted the shorter rounds because I wanted more action,” Tyson explained. “If we only have two minutes, we’ll fight more.”

Paul is more than 30 years younger than Tyson

Paul is more than 30 years younger than Tyson

2. Knockouts

In Tyson’s previous fight with Roy Jones Jr., knockouts were surprisingly off-limits. However, neither fighter came close to achieving that, resulting in a lackluster draw. This Friday, though, knockouts are definitely in play. Both Tyson and Paul have shared videos of their sparring sessions where they seem to be knocking down their partners.

Yet, it remains uncertain whether Tyson still possesses his knockout power, and if Paul is ready to face potential backlash from sports enthusiasts by knocking out their beloved icon.

3. Gloves

In a typical heavyweight bout, Mike Tyson and Jake Paul would be donning 10oz gloves. However, in an unusual twist, they’ll be sporting 14oz mitts, which offer more padding and are typically used for training and sparring. The reason behind this decision remains unclear, but it’s likely a safety measure that could reduce the chances of a knockout. Even during Tyson’s match with Roy Jones Jr, the boxing legends wore 12oz gloves.

4. Scoring

If both Mike Tyson and Jake Paul make it to the final bell, the fight’s outcome will be determined by three ringside judges. Each judge will score each round 10-9 in favor of one fighter, unless a knockdown occurs, in which case the downed fighter loses a point. In the event of a too-close-to-call round, judges can declare it a 10-10 tie. After eight rounds, the judges’ scores will be tallied to determine the winner.