Mike Tyson on Saturday opened up about a health scare he suffered just months before his highly anticipated fight against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
“I almost died in June,” Tyson wrote in a post on X, formerly called Twitter.
“Had 8 blood transfusions. Lost half my blood and 25lbs in hospital and had to fight to get healthy to fight so I won,” he continued.
In May, the former heavyweight champion experienced a medical emergency while on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles.
At the time, his representatives noted that he became “nauseous and dizzy” from an “ulcer flare-up” 30 minutes prior to landing.
Tyson was described as doing “great” one day after the medical episode.
His Netflix-hosted bout with Paul, who is less than half of Tyson’s age, would wind up being pushed back to this month due to the health scare.
Tyson’s comments arrived after he fought all eight rounds prior to his loss by unanimous decision to Paul at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The 58-year-old, in his post on X, described Friday’s fight as “one of those situations when you lost but still won.”
“I’m grateful for last night. No regrets to get in ring one last time,” said Tyson, who retired in 2005 and last fought in an exhibition bout back in 2020.
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“To have my children see me stand toe to toe and finish 8 rounds with a talented fighter half my age in front of a packed Dallas Cowboy stadium is an experience that no man has the right to ask for. Thank you 🙏,” he concluded.
In an interview with combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani after the fight, Paul gave Tyson his flowers.
“Let’s give it up for Mike, bro. He’s a legend. He’s the greatest to ever do it,” Paul declared.
“He’s the GOAT,” he continued. “I look up to him, I’m inspired by him. And we wouldn’t be here today without him. This man is an icon, and it’s just an honor to be able to fight him, and he’s obviously the toughest, baddest man on the planet, so it was really tough like I expected it to be.”
