At 58 years of age, Mike Tyson returned to the ring to face Jake Paul in a highly questionable fight, not only because Tyson had been retired for two decades, but also because of the age difference with his opponent who was then 27 years old.
However, as expected, the fight generated enormous worldwide expectation and ended up being one of the most successful in history in economic terms and in terms of audience as one of the most watched boxing matches live.
The result was worrying for many, as Tyson was not in optimal physical condition for an eight-round professional fight, let alone against a rival who, despite the multiple criticisms that have been made about the choice of his opponents, physically is undoubtedly in great shape.
What happened to Mike Tyson?
The former world champion went into the fight with an aggravated ulcer that required eight blood transfusions, conditions more than enough for Tyson to have backed out of the fight
In addition, at the end, he left visibly affected and without remembering much of the fight, so despite receiving a purse of $20 million, many wondered why he accepted the fight given the circumstances, but in a recent interview, Tyson himself gave a clear answer.
Mike Tyson admits he was high when he accepted the fight with Jake Paul
In a conversation with Fox News, Mike Tyson confessed that he was under the influence of cannabis when he decided to accept the fight against Jake Paul. When journalist Jackson Thompson asked him directly if he was high when he signed the agreement, Tyson replied bluntly: “Absolutely”.
In addition, he added that he would not have accepted the fight if he had been sober: “I don’t think so. No, I wouldn’t have done it”. According to the boxer, marijuana use interfered with his ability to make rational decisions, something he himself acknowledged:
Without cannabis, I get too caught up in my emotions. Without cannabis, I’m very objective
Despite calling the decision irrational, Tyson made it clear that he has no regrets, as it allowed him to relive for the last time the adrenaline of the ring, a feeling that, he said, he will always treasure.
Jake Paul recognizes Tyson’s talent
Jake Paul also spoke about the fight and expressed admiration for Tyson’s performance. In an interview, the YouTuber and boxer confessed that he was surprised by Tyson’s speed and agility during the fight.
I was surprised at how difficult it was to hit Mike Tyson. His movement, his ability to dodge punches. He’s incredibly fast, even at his age
He also highlighted Tyson’s famous peek-a-boo style, which consisted of head movements and shifts that made him difficult to hit
The statistics back up his comments: Paul landed just 78 of 278 total punches, and just 31 of 179 jabs, so Tyson proved that he still has above-average reflexes and technique.
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