Fifty-eight-year-old former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson will step back into a boxing ring again against a social-media influencer with millions of followers and 11 pro fights.

Welcome to the new reality of combat sports, folks.

Whatever you think about Jake Paul boxing matches, there's no question they draw eyeballs. The Problem Child's next bout will be the talk of the sporting world as the 27-year-old takes on Tyson on Friday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Will Paul stun the world and find a way to beat his legendary opponent? Or will Iron Mike turn back the clock and unleash a viral knockout that will be one more crowning achievement on an illustrious career?

The B/R combat sports team has been called together to provide its analysis and predictions.

Don't agree with what they have to say? Sound off in the comments section of the app.

The Big Question: What's Mike Here For?

I'll be entering the stadium in Arlington later this week hoping hard for one thing: That what we see Friday night is actually a fight.

Or as much a fight as there can be between a 58-year-old former heavyweight champion and a wannabe whose list of opponents has been the finest example of making a star look good since Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis were cast alongside Bradley Cooper.

But I won't kid anyone. I'm not super optimistic that it'll live up to the hype.

So, to me, prediction-wise, it all comes down to what Tyson is there for.

If he's coming to Texas to collect a nice paycheck for playing a role in a farce, expect eight rounds of mugging, hugging and the sort of nonsense more suitably packaged by WWE.

Maybe not the "two of my uncles fighting at the barbecue" billing that his 2020 scrap with Roy Jones Jr. earned from Snoop Dogg, but probably not a whole lot better.

If, on the other hand, he's there for a real competition, well, let's just say Paul's in trouble.

Beating the likes of Anderson Silva and Nate Diaz doesn't prepare someone for the sort of fundamental violence that a guy like Tyson—even the version deep into AARP membership—can deliver on muscle memory alone.

And if the one-time "Baddest Man on the Planet" can still muster that intensity for even 60 seconds at a time, it'll be viral, all right. But not in the way the "Problem Child" is used to.

I fear it'll be the first one, But man, oh man, how I hope it's the second.

–Lyle Fitzsimmons

Nothing But a One-Outcome Sham

As I began to give this prediction some serious thought, it quickly became clear to me that I don't have much to say that hasn't been said countless times by countless people already, but I'll say it all anyway: Mike Tyson would have annihilated Jake Paul in his heyday, but at 58, he has no business being in the ring with anybody, even someone as green as the social media star.

Tyson is going to lose this fight, and like most other fans, I'm just hoping it happens in the least violent way possible, even if it's at the expense of our entertainment.

What's interesting is that Tyson will probably look like he has a shot early on. In his 2020 exhibition match with Roy Jones Jr., we saw that he's still pretty spry for an older gentleman, and most of the training footage he's released since then suggests he's still moving well, even if he's just a few years out from senior citizen status in Texas.

Paul, on the other hand, still doesn't move very well in the ring. His footwork isn't great, and despite his obvious firepower, he's not actually that fast.

I would not be surprised if Tyson outmaneuvers him a bit in the early going, but it won't matter. All Paul will need to do to make this very, very ugly is land one good shot, and it's going to happen eventually. In my mind, it's just a question of how long he's willing to carry his opponent.

My instincts tell me Paul will refrain from pulling the trigger for a few rounds, just to give the fans' their money's worth, but eventually he's going to score a knockdown, even if he is (hopefully) pulling his punches a bit. If the referee has any integrity whatsoever that's where it will end — even if Tyson tries to return to his feet.

I'd love to be wrong, but this fight is nothing more than a one-outcome sham, and the only reason it's happening is so Netflix can brag about promoting one of the most-watched boxing matches in recent memory as it continues its push into the live sports sector.

–Tom Taylor

This Is All Theater and It Really Doesn't Matter Who Wins

Give credit to Paul, Tyson and MVP Promotions for making me and many other fight fans tune in to this sideshow.

And give credit to Paul for finding ways to keep us entertained while stacking the deck in his favor. Whether it was fighting former NBA player Nate Robinson or former UFC champions Tyrone Woodley and Anderson Silva, The Problem Child seemingly has had the advantage in all of these matchups.

The problem—no pun intended—for Paul is that even if he beats Tyson, no one is going to take the result of the fight seriously.

Tyson, for all his training videos and ferocity in them, is 58 years old and had to reschedule this fight due to an ulcer flare-up. Don't get me wrong, Iron Mike is one of the greatest heavyweight champions the Sweet Science has ever seen. But Father Time comes for everyone and a hindered Mike Tyson in his late 50s is nowhere near the same level as the man who dominated boxing in the 1980s.

For Tyson, it's a no-lose situation. If he wins, it's one last glory for an old warrior to ride into the sunset; if he loses, he's got a built-in excuse that he's old and he's been hampered throughout his fight camp.

You want a prediction? Here's mine: It's going to be a circus and I'm going to watch it. I'm not going to take whatever happens seriously and neither should anyone who watches. But it should be fun, it'll get people talking, and I'm sure it will lead to another mega-money fight for Paul down the line, perhaps a rematch.

After all, this is boxing and nothing sells better than controversy.

—Lucky Ngamwajasat

Sorry, Haters: Jake Will Be Beat Iron Mike

This fight is actually happening.

The legend himself, former undisputed heavyweight champ and once-scariest man on the planet, is stepping into the ring with a former YouTuber who's managed to worm his way into professional boxing. Jake Paul has already tasted defeat, so the appeal of being the guy to 'give him his first L' is long gone. Instead of taking a rematch with Tommy Fury, Jake's sticking to what he knows best: hyped-up, gimmicky fights.

That being said, Mike Tyson is going to lose. Iron Mike is pushing 60, making him nearly 30 years older than Jake Paul. His age alone is a concern, but Tyson's health and ability to endure a fight are even bigger question marks. The fact they had to switch from 3-minute rounds to 2-minute rounds? Major red flag. Throw in heavier 14-oz gloves (compared to the standard 10-oz gloves), and it's clear they're making adjustments for a reason.

Tyson's recent health struggles make this all the more worrying. He had an ulcer flare-up that delayed this fight, and he suffers from sciatica, a painful condition that makes it tough to move around, let alone fight. Given all that, I think Jake Paul takes this one by decision. Tyson's grit might get him through all the rounds, but it'll be a testament to sheer willpower more than anything else. And after it's all over, everyone will be asking: what's next for 'The Problem Child'?

Sorry, Haters: Jake Will Be Beat Iron Mike

This fight is actually happening.

The legend himself, former undisputed heavyweight champ and once-scariest man on the planet, is stepping into the ring with a former YouTuber who's managed to worm his way into professional boxing. Jake Paul has already tasted defeat, so the appeal of being the guy to 'give him his first L' is long gone. Instead of taking a rematch with Tommy Fury, Jake's sticking to what he knows best: hyped-up, gimmicky fights.

That being said, Mike Tyson is going to lose. Iron Mike is pushing 60, making him nearly 30 years older than Jake Paul. His age alone is a concern, but Tyson's health and ability to endure a fight are even bigger question marks. The fact they had to switch from 3-minute rounds to 2-minute rounds? Major red flag. Throw in heavier 14-oz gloves (compared to the standard 10-oz gloves), and it's clear they're making adjustments for a reason.

Tyson's recent health struggles make this all the more worrying. He had an ulcer flare-up that delayed this fight, and he suffers from sciatica, a painful condition that makes it tough to move around, let alone fight. Given all that, I think Jake Paul takes this one by decision. Tyson's grit might get him through all the rounds, but it'll be a testament to sheer willpower more than anything else. And after it's all over, everyone will be asking: what's next for 'The Problem Child'?

- Douglas A. Brown