The general secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control has described as “ridiculous” the coming fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul.

Paul and the 57-year-old Tyson have agreed terms to fight on July 20 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, but whether they will fight in an exhibition or sanctioned professional boxing match remains unclear.

The BBBC’s reputation for respecting health and safety has most recently contributed to them being recruited to also oversee fights in Saudi Arabia, but at a time when significant investment is making previously unlikely fights take place, its general secretary Robert Smith said: “I can’t believe it, really, to be fair. 

“Who’s organising it? Who’s doing the medicals? It’s a 50-year-old man against somebody [30 years younger than him]. It’s very difficult to understand, to be fair. It’s ridiculous. So how do you go?

“[Whether it’s sanctioned as a professional contest] depends on Texas [Boxing Commission], doesn’t it? They’re saying they’re going to do it. I really can’t answer that.”

Smith was then asked if the BBBC would have considered sanctioning it as a fight, and he responded: “You know the answer [to that].”