'It’s hard to walk right now': Mike Tyson gives gruesome health update
The potential showdown between boxing legend Mike Tyson and YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul has captivated boxing fans for months now. However, recent reports about Tyson’s training and health have cast doubt on whether this highly anticipated bout will even happen.
At 57, Tyson is struggling physically, raising concerns about his readiness and whether stepping back into the ring is a good idea. The question now remains: Will the fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul actually take place?
Mike Tyson and Jake Paul represent two very different eras of boxing, yet their potential matchup has intrigued fans across generations. Tyson, one of the most feared and celebrated heavyweights in boxing history, hasn’t fought competitively since his 2005 retirement. While his 2020 exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr. showed glimpses of his former power and skill, the fight against Paul would be a very different affair.
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Jake Paul, meanwhile, has carved out an unexpected niche in the sport. What began as a spectacle — an internet celebrity stepping into the ring — has turned into a genuine professional boxing career with a 7-1 record, including wins over former UFC fighters.
While the allure of Tyson returning to the ring is undeniable, recent reports from his training camp have raised significant concerns. According to USA Today, Tyson has been struggling with his physical condition, with reports stating that "it’s hard to walk right now" for the former champion.
"It's hard to walk right now. But two months from now I'm going to be perfect. The fight is won in the gym," Tyson told USA Today. "Listen, I’ll do anything that will help me. I'm going to enjoy my time here tonight with all my childhood friends, and the hell with Jake Paul."
At 57 years old, Tyson's body has endured decades of grueling fights and training sessions. While he defied expectations during his 2020 exhibition match against Jones, the question remains whether his body can handle the wear and tear of another intense fight preparation, especially against a younger, fitter opponent like Paul.
Let's not forget, that this is a fight that was scheduled to take place in July 2024, but was postponed due to Tyson suffering from a flare up of a stomach ulcer during his preparations for that bout, as reported by TalkSport.
While Tyson battles his physical limitations, Jake Paul is in the prime of his life, both physically and professionally. At 27, Paul is a decade younger than Tyson was when he retired, and he is actively building his boxing career. What started as a controversial experiment — a YouTuber stepping into the world of professional fighting — has evolved into a serious pursuit.
While his career has been criticized for his choice of opponents, mostly non-boxers, Paul has shown steady improvement and is eager to take on bigger challenges. A fight with Mike Tyson, one of the most recognizable figures in sports history, would give Paul an enormous platform and boost his legitimacy within the sport.
From a promotional standpoint, Paul is ready for the fight. He has a massive social media following, understands how to generate buzz, the biggest question mark is not whether Paul is ready, but whether Tyson can physically handle the fight.
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There is a real concern that Tyson could be putting himself in harm’s way by attempting to fight someone 30 years younger. Let's not forget, boxing is a sport with real consequences, with CNN reporting that on average 13 people a year die as a direct result of their participation in the sport.
While that is highly unlikely at this level of the sport, there's no telling exactly what could happen if a physically unfit Tyson got into the ring with someone like Paul.
As a result, there is already strict protocol in place that could see the fight called off just hours before the bell is set to ring on 15 November, if either fighter fails to convince the authorities on their fitness for the bout, Express reported in September.
The professionally sanctioned fight may also be downgraded to an exhibition match yet too if either party is not quite up to professional levels of ability and fitness ahead of the match.
Despite this, Tyson feels confident of making the grade, as the Mirror reported in September: "I'm very prepared to knock out Jake Paul. I'm very prepared. I had a small adversity. I got sick, but I feel good. I'm just ready. I'm just ready."
"I'm going to do my talk and I'm going to talk my s***, but I'm ready to fight. I'm beautiful and I've been back to training for a while, like two weeks, three weeks... I'm in camp. As soon as I catch this guy, it's over."
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