Mike Tyson fought Jake Paul despite battling a serious health issue. The 58-year-old boxing legend revealed he stepped into the ring on November 15, 2023, while suffering from a bloody ulcer, fearing potential lawsuits if he backed out.
The fight was originally set for July 2023 but got pushed back when Tyson's stomach ulcer flared up. The former heavyweight champ's condition was severe. He had a bloody ulcer about 3 inches long that kept bleeding. Tyson needed 10 blood transfusions and dealt with intense pain.
Tyson explained his decision to go through with the fight:
"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."
He also described the toll the ulcer took on him:
"I had a bloody ulcer, like three inches. Kept bleeding and bleeding. And I had to have, what, 10 blood transfusions. 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."
Despite Tyson's health struggles, the fight went ahead. Jake Paul, the 27-year-old former YouTube star, won by a wide unanimous decision. Tyson looked nothing like the fearsome "Iron Mike" who became the youngest world heavyweight champion in history back in 1986.
The bout marked a stark contrast to Tyson's prime. His last professional fight was in 2005, ending in a knockout loss to Kevin McBride. After initially saying he wanted to fight again, Tyson changed his mind and decided to retire for good following the Paul fight.
The event raised questions about the wisdom of letting a 58-year-old man with serious health issues step into the ring against a much younger opponent. It also highlighted the financial pressures that can push athletes to compete even when their bodies are telling them not to.
