The sweet science will take center stage on Friday night when Mike Tyson, one of boxing’s greatest-ever showmen, returns to the ring.
He’ll be joined by internet supernova Jake Paul, whose fledgling career as a pugilist has enlivened some and affronted others.
Tyson hasn’t participated in a sanctioned boxing match since the Bush Administration. He was recently felled with serious medical issues, and yet, here he is, slated to jostle with Paul for punching supremacy.
It’s made for a weird spectacle, but in the baffling American sports ecosystem, clashes like Tyson and Paul’s are increasingly common. Look no further than Paul’s previous duels: he’s clashed with former UFC stars Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva, Nate Diaz, and Mike Perry, as well as YouTuber KSI and reality TV star Tommy Fury.
Tyson is the next name on his list. Here’s what you need to know about his most recent spell in triage, one which prompted a huge shake-up on the calendar.
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What happened to Mike Tyson?
Tyson’s return to the ring wasn’t without its obstacles. He endured a frightening health scare prior to the initial date of his bout with Paul, July 20.
Tyson detailed the nature of his ordeal on “Countdown: Paul vs. Tyson”, a Netflix documentary released during the lead-up to Saturday’s fight.
“I was training, and I was doing great,” Tyson said, via New York Magazine. “Then all of a sudden, I started feeling kind of tired and I was explaining to my trainer, ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with me.'”
Tyson’s symptoms intensified while flying to Texas for the duel.
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“Coming here from Miami on the plane, I went to the bathroom, and I threw up blood, next thing I know, I’m on the floor and I was defecating tar,” Tyson said. “So, I came here [to the hospital] and they found out I had a big ulcer — two-and-a-half inches and it’s bleeding. All of my friends were calling me like I’m dying.
“I asked the doctor if I’m going to die, and she didn’t say no, she said, ‘We have options, though,’ and that’s when I got nervous. I can’t wait to get out of this m— man, I want to fight and get back to training.”
Mike Tyson: ‘I almost died’
Tyson said he underwent several blood transfusions due to his ulcer.
“The doctor said I lost half my blood. I almost died,” Tyson said.
“I lost 25 pounds in 11 days. Couldn’t eat. Only liquids. Every time I went to the bathroom, it smelled like tar. Didn’t even smell like s— anymore. It was disgusting.”
Tyson slowly recovered from his malady, finding enough health to return home. His fitness predictably atrophied.
“All my coordination, stamina, everything was hectic getting back,” Tyson said. “I was peaked already. I could have fought him that day. Now I got to start from scratch.”
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Why was Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson originally postponed?
Promoters cited an ulcer “flare-up” as the reason behind the initial postponement of the Paul-Tyson clash.
“Unfortunately, due to my ulcer flare-up, I have been advised by my doctor to lighten my training for a few weeks to rest and recover,” Tyson said in a statement. “My body is in better overall shape than it has been since the 1990s, and I will be back to my full training schedule soon.”
Paul and Tyson agreed that it was only fair to fight while both boxers are fully healthy.
“My fans know I don’t want to face Iron Mike at anything but his best, but let there be no mistake — when he steps into the ring with me, I will be ready to claim my W with a sensational finish,” Paul said in a statement.
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How old is Mike Tyson?
Tyson is 58, having been born on June 30, 1966. The Fort Greene, Brooklyn, native burst on to the scene armed with two pistons. He proceeded to use both to great effect, becoming the youngest heavyweight champion in history after introducing Trevor Burbick to the canvas in 1986.
The Cus D’Amato prodigy is far from his “Kid Dynamite” prime. Boxing fans worldwide are hoping he can find lightning in a bottle on Friday night.
Mike Tyson health update
Tyson has a clean bill of health entering into Friday’s duel.
“I’m beautiful, and I’ve been training,” Tyson said, via Bloody Elbow. “I’ve been training for a while, two weeks or three weeks, and I’m okay to fight… I’m in camp right now.”
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation — the governing body that is sanctioning the Paul-Tyson fight — vowed to conduct a “thorough” dive into Tyson’s recent health history, according to World Boxing News.
World Boxing News reported that TDLR’s pre-fight medical testing wasn’t to be conducted until Thursday, leaving just one day for the organization to make a decision on the status of the Paul-Tyson fight.
The match is officially sanctioned, although it carries a trio of quirks that make it markedly different from the typical boxing match that goes on in the state of Texas. Paul and Tyson will sport 14-ounce gloves rather than the standard 10-ounce mitts typically employed in heavyweight fights; the rounds will be two minutes, not three; and the fight will be contested over eight rounds rather than 10 or 12.
Matchroom Boxing CEO Eddie Hearn wasn’t convinced by TDLR’s decision to sanction the clash.
“The reality is that 20 years ago when Mike Tyson retired from the sport he was shot, completely finished,” Hearn said, via ESPN. “It was actually sad to watch then, 20 years ago.
“…You only need to speak to him and look at him to know this guy should not be in a ring again. … If I was Jake Paul, I’d just feel a little bit embarrassed, to be honest with you. … This is dangerous, irresponsible and, in my opinion, disrespectful to the sport of boxing.”
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