Mike Tyson, at the age of 58, is planning to enter the ring once again, to face Jake Paul.

The key terms around their boxing engagement haven’t been announced yet. 

Many are wondering whether it will be an exhibition match or a professional fight, and if it will be taking place with higher-ounce gloves and at abbreviated rounds.

Regardless of the terms, critics are crying foul that Tyson would step into the ring and risk absorbing punishment against a 27-year-old cruiserweight.

Never one to back down from a fight, Tyson is now punching back at detractors of the fight. 

"I'’m 58 and what? I'm getting billions of views from just talking to somebody about fighting," Tyson told Reuters.

"Everybody, even most of the athletes, they're jealous. That's whack. ... I say in your prime you couldn't draw a million people, man. What are you talking – you couldn't sell out an arena. Who at 58 could sell out an 80,000-seat arena?"

The bout is set to take place on July 20 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys. It will stream on Netflix.

Tyson, a former heavyweight champion, retired from professional boxing in 2005 with a record of 50 wins and 6 losses. 

“Iron Mike” returned to the ring in 2020 for an exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr. 

The entertaining showcase unfolded over eight two-minute rounds and was considered a commercial success. Both fighters wore 12-ounce gloves, no official judges scored the encounter, and a winner was not announced.

Paul has a professional record of 9-1 since turning pro in 2020 and has proven to possess prolific one-punch knockout power. ;

"Why do you think he wants to fight me and not anybody else?" Tyson said.

"Everybody wants to fight him – all the boxers want to fight him. But if he fought them, the only people that will come are the people that like him.”

Tyson realizes that his earning power and commercial appeal is still as strong as it was in his prime.

"The other guys, their parents might not even come watch them,” Tyson said. “That's just keeping it real. They're too boring for their children to watch. It's like watching grass grow."