Mike Tyson was in sensational shape for his fight with Jake Paul back in November – but the former heavyweight world champion has piled on the pounds over the festive period
Former heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson seems to be relishing some downtime after his boxing match with Jake Paul. The 58-year-old faced off against the YouTuber-turned-boxer in November, marking Tyson’s first professional bout since his loss to Kevin McBride in 2005.
However, he did participate in an exhibition match against legendary boxer Roy Jones Jr in 2020 before his face-off with ‘The Problem Child’. The fight with the 27-year-old was a significant challenge for ‘Iron Mike,’ primarily due to the vast age difference, necessitating serious preparation from the seasoned boxer.
Tyson wowed many with his toned physique ahead of the heavyweight clash. Although the American appeared sharp in training, his age was evident on fight night in Texas.
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Despite not achieving a knockout, Paul sailed to a unanimous decision victory, extending his professional boxing record to 11-1. Seven weeks post-fight, Tyson has been enjoying a well-deserved break and appears to have put on some weight in recent footage.
After an intense and exhausting training camp, it seems that the American’s focus is no longer on the ring but on spending time with his family over the holiday season.
Before his defeat to Paul, Tyson confessed that he “almost died”. The legendary fighter took to Twitter and shared: “This is 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.
“I almost died in June. Had 8 blood transfusions. Lost half my blood and 25lbs in hospital and had to fight to get healthy to fight so I won. 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.”
Tyson was initially scheduled to face off against Paul in July, but the match was delayed due to Tyson experiencing a health scare during a flight. Speaking about the incident before the fight, Tyson told New York Magazine: “I was in the bathroom throwing up blood.”
He added, “I asked the doctor, ‘Am I going to die? ‘ He said, ‘We have options.’ Options? I couldn’t believe it. I had, like, eight blood transfusions. The doctor said I lost half my blood. I almost died.
“I lost 25 pounds in 11 days. Couldn’t eat. Only liquids. Every time I went to the bathroom, it smelled like tar. Didn’t even smell like —- anymore. It was disgusting. It threw me off [when I continued training].
“All my coordination, stamina, everything was hectic getting back. I was peaked already. I could have fought him that day. Now I got to start from scratch. I just don’t give up.”
