28 May 2024 , 17:14
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Mike Tyson says he now feels 100 percent after suffering a medical emergency on a flight - and added he doesn't need his best health to defeat Jake Paul.
The 57-year-old boxing legend, who will be 58 by the time the pair fight, provided a medical update following an episode of nausea and dizziness due to an ulcer flare-up while on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles on Monday. Tyson's team immediately issued a update to Mirror Fighting regarding his health, but the boxing legend went one further reassuring his fans that he's OK.
"Now feeling 100% even though I don’t need to be to beat Jake Paul," wrote Tyson on X. The post received over 500 comments in less than 20 minutes, with 186k impressions, most with well wishes for the boxing's youngest heavyweight champion.
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Initial reports suggested that Tyson's health scare delayed the plane's takeoff. Yet, Tyson's representatives refuted these claims and attributed the two-hour delay to an air conditioning issue on the aircraft.
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Despite the scare and concerns from fans and medical professionals about his age and health, Tyson expressed his confidence in his abilities as he prepares to face the 27-year-old social media star-turned-boxer on July 20 at AT&T Stadium. The fight, scheduled for July 20, will feature eight two-minute rounds in the heavyweight division with 14-ounce gloves.
But, as much support as Tyson received from boxing fans, he also faced significant criticism from former and active fighters, media members, and several physicians specializing in brain trauma. Given the substantial age gap between Tyson and Paul, this vocal group has been adamant about questioning how the Texas State Athletic Commission sanctioned the fight as a professional bout.
Mike Tyson faces off with Jake Paul (Daniel McGregor-Huyer/REX/Shutterstock)Concerns about Tyson's health and the potential risks of brain damage due to his age and history of alcohol and head trauma have fueled the debate. Concussion Legacy Foundation specialist Nathan Howarth pointed out the dangers Tyson faces should he go through with the fight.
"We know your exposure to head impacts increases your risk of things like chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The first reported cases from boxing are from the 1930s, and we still see that in terms of boxing's risk to CTE, and it's no secret that there is an element of neurodegeneration," Howarth expressed to Betway.
Tyson's admission during a press conference for the event, where he noted that his intense training regimen was taking a toll on his body after switching to a raw meat diet for the AT&T Stadium fight, raised concerns among fans. Paul's emphasis on showing no mercy to Tyson on fight night due to his championship pedigree and assumption of Tyson's massive power in both fists only added to the concern for Tyson's welfare.