Boxing legend Mike Tyson may have been eager to return to the ring, but it appears legal concerns played a major role in his decision to go through with his fight against Jake Paul, even when his health was in serious jeopardy.
At 58 years old, Tyson had already shocked the world once with his 2020 comeback against Roy Jones Jr. in an exhibition bout. The fight reignited his competitive spirit, leading him to accept a professional fight against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in what many saw as an unlikely matchup.
However, Tyson’s health soon became a major concern, forcing the original July date to be postponed when he suffered an ulcer flare-up during a flight.
After being medically cleared, the fight was rescheduled for November, but when the night finally arrived, it was clear that Tyson’s age and condition had taken a toll.
Paul outperformed and outscored the former heavyweight champion, leading many to question why Tyson hadn’t withdrawn for a second time. Now, he has revealed that fear of legal repercussions played a significant role in his decision to fight.
Tyson feared lawsuit
In a recent interview with Fox Nation, Tyson admitted that despite his worsening condition, he felt he had no choice but to step into the ring.
“I was worried about getting sued, you know, because I was like, God, they’re going to sue me if I don’t do this fight,” Tyson confessed.
The legendary fighter described the severity of his medical struggles, revealing that his ulcer had been bleeding profusely, requiring multiple blood transfusions.
“I had a bloody ulcer, like three inches. Kept bleeding and bleeding. And I had to have, what, 10 blood transfusions,” he said.
Despite the excruciating pain, Tyson went ahead with the fight, driven by his commitment to the contract and his concern over potential lawsuits.
“Each time I do this, I was like the same doing Roy Jones as doing this one. My wife sees me screaming because my body is in so much pain. And I come home, I’m like, ah, ah. I promise I wouldn’t do this to myself,” he admitted.