- Tyson took on Paul in a controversial bout in Texas back in October 2024
- Paul dominated the fight, which was rearranged due to Tyson’s health struggles
- Iron Mike has now revealed why he didn’t feel he could pull out of the bout
Mike Tyson has revealed why he really fought Jake Paul instead of pulling out of the bout over health concerns.
Tyson, 58, took on Paul, 28, in a controversial bout at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in November, which fans slammed due to Tyson being 30 years older than his opponent and dealing with health concerns.
65million people watched the event, which was streamed on Netflix, with Paul winning via unanimous decision and revealing he opted not to knock Tyson out in a fight he dominated.
Former world champion Tyson retired in 2005 – having just one fight since 2020, which was an exhibition bout – and was due to take on Paul in July last year before he pulled out due to an ulcer flare up.
More concern was raised after the fight when Tyson revealed he nearly died in the build-up to the event, sparking concerns for his health, despite him being cleared to compete.
Now, in an interview with Fox Nation, Iron Mike has lifted the lid on why he felt he needed to step inside the ring after signing all the relevant paperwork.
‘I was worried about getting sued,’ Tyson said. ‘I was like, “God, they’re going to sue me if I don’t do this fight”.
‘I had a bloody ulcer, like three inches. Kept bleeding and bleeding. And I had to have, what, 10 blood transfusions. 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”.’
That didn’t stop the veteran calling out Jake’s brother, Logan, in the ring after the fight, but it seems unlikely that bout will every happen.
While Paul is on the hunt for his next opponent, Tyson is now likely done in terms of competitive boxing. Last month, he admitted he was still recovering from the bout, telling the New York Post: ‘I feel pretty good. I don’t know if I’m 100 per cent recovered, but I feel good.’
In December, meanwhile, he told Fox Sports Radio: ‘I don’t remember the fight that much, I kind of blanked out.
‘I haven’t watched the fight. You know what I remember… coming back from the first round and Jake was doing some sort of bow… that’s the last thing I remember.
‘I wasn’t tired, I wasn’t sweaty. I went to the house we were staying in, I left the house with my wife and kids, went to the after-party then went back.’
