Mike Tyson used fentanyl as a painkiller during his boxing career. The former heavyweight champion, now 58, opened up about using the powerful synthetic opioid in the late '80s and early '90s when he was at the top of his game.
Tyson made this revelation on the Katie Miller Podcast. He explained how he used fentanyl to cope with the physical toll of being boxing's most feared fighter.
"It was a painkiller, and I used to use it to patch up my toe. It was like heroin - once it wears off and you take the Band-Aid off, you start withdrawing, throwing up, just like if you were on heroin."
The boxing legend described fentanyl as 'brand new' when he first encountered it. He didn't fully understand its risks at the time. Today, fentanyl is known to be 100 times stronger than morphine and sits at the center of America's deadliest drug crisis. In 2024, over 48,000 Americans died from illicit fentanyl overdoses.
Masking pain has always been part of a boxer's job. Tyson's friend and fellow boxer, Arturo Gatti, also struggled with opioids during his career. Gatti passed away in 2009.
Tyson has fought a long, public battle with addiction. These days, he's focused on the marijuana industry. He sees it as a safer alternative to painkillers and an outlet that has reshaped his image in retirement.
The former champ continues to box. He lost a heavily criticized match against Jake Paul in November 2024. Now, he's set to face Floyd Mayweather in an exhibition bout in 2026, which is already creating a stir.
Tyson's story shows that even the toughest fighters in the ring often face private battles that fans don't see. For Tyson, fentanyl wasn't making headlines back then - it was just another way to keep fighting.
