Who is Big Mo? Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul fight announcer set to become the next Michael Buffer

Expect a cavalcade of stars as Mike Tyson prepares to take on Jake Paul. Stepping into the global spotlight as the ring announcer is Kody 'Big Mo' Mommaerts, during the blockbuster event broadcast live on Netflix.

As 58 year old Tyson eyes a victory that defies his age against the much younger, Youtuber-turned-boxer Paul, the boxing world is abuzz with both anticipation and scepticism given the 31-year age difference. Tyson is raring to go in his first professional bout since 2005, while Paul boasts an impressive 10-1 record in the sport.

The Netflix team bringing the fight to screens will feature well-known personalities. Joining lead presenter Kate Scott (nee Abdo) in the studio will be former world champ Andre Ward, and seasoned commentator Mauro Ranallo will deliver play-by-play ringside alongside boxing royalty Roy Jones Jr.

Amir Tyson, the son of Mike Tyson, is slated to provide commentary for the undercard matches.

Notably absent, however, will be Michael Buffer's legendary line "Let's get ready to rumble"; instead, it's Kody 'Big Mo' Mommaerts, 29 years old with an eye-catching persona and a well-crafted 'Big Mo' brand, who'll be commanding the main event's announcements, reports the Mirror.

Who exactly is Kody 'Big Mo' Mommaerts?

Having been raised by his single father in Louisville, Colorado, Mommaerts admits to a childhood clouded by social awkwardness. It was during high school that he found his stride as an offensive lineman in American Football, advancing to Division One at the University of Northern Colorado and studying Business Marketing.

Mommaerts first stepped into the role of announcer during his university years at an athletic awards ceremony. He subsequently teamed up with Denver's Sparta promotion and later introduced his debut boxing match at 23, branding himself as "the youngest announcer in the world".

After working on the 2021 Eddie Hall vs Hafthor Bjornsson bout, Boxxer picked him to present at Sky Sports events. "I saw a gap in the market. I saw this front-facing job being done by three or four people at the most part, a little bit older in demographic, and I saw this gap in the market," Big Mo said.

"I started branding myself. I used to wear sunglasses in the ring for a visual aesthetic. I wanted to stand out and be a little bit different. I recognised I was 30, 40 years younger than other people doing it."

Away from combat sports, Mommaerts serves as COO at Sports Thread, focusing on youth sports. While specialising in advertising, he also holds ambitions to enter the entertainment sector on a full-time basis.

In contrast to the seasoned Buffer brothers, Michael, aged 80, and UFC announcer Bruce, 67, Mommaerts forged his own path to success through social media. Despite these efforts, 'Big Mo' has not avoided being likened to those he considers the industry's finest.

However, he's determined to carve out his own legacy in the boxing world. Speaking to Sky Sports earlier this year, Mommaerts said: "Some people like ketchup, some people like mustard, people have different preferences, but to me the Buffers are the gold standard and the best at what they do," adding, "I've always looked at them as that benchmark that I will try to chase and ultimately hopefully become better than, and I mean that respectfully. I've gotten a lot of comparisons and I take that as a compliment, but I want to be myself."

He also noted the importance of individuality in public roles, stating, "And I think that's critical as you build a role in the public eye, whether it's being a ring announcer or an entertainer. And the reality is, I got started in this industry at a much younger age than anyone else that did it, the average age of announcers today is like 50. I'm 28, I started with Sky, it's important for me to establish who I am now."