Anticipation for Mike Tyson's heavyweight fight against Jake Paul had been steadily building since the fight was first announced in March. However, a four-month delay from the fight's original date only increased the appetite of fans.
Reasons for the Postponement
The fight was originally set for July 20, but roughly six weeks before the scheduled date, Tyson suffered an ulcer flare-up on a flight to Los Angeles that left him hospitalized. Tyson quickly recovered but was forced to slow his training camp, ultimately forcing the bout to be postponed until November 15.
For Tyson, the warning signs were apparent before boarding his flight from Miami to Los Angeles. He'd begun to feel a difference in his training, which up to that point had progressed issue-free.
Tyson, 58, reportedly suffered the flare up roughly 30 minutes before the plane was set to land. He first felt nauseous and dizzy, before greater warning signs began to appear.
In Netflix's docuseries “Countdown: Paul vs. Tyson,” which hit the platform Nov. 7, Tyson opened up about his recovery. Tyson said the ulcer was two-and-a-half inches and bleeding.
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After the hospitalization, Tyson had “to start from scratch” in his training, he told New York Magazine. Tyson said in the aftermath of the injury he lost 26 pounds, but despite that, he managed to return to full training by the end of the summer.
Tyson has faced no additional medical complications as his training camp has continued, led by longtime trainer and Cus D'Amato product, Billy White.
Tyson's return to the ring was his first fight since an exhibition bout against fellow hall of fame boxer Roy Jones Jr. in 2020.
For Paul, who has long idolized Tyson, the news came as a shock. Tyson also shared on Netflix's pre-fight documentary, "Countdown: Paul vs Tyson," that he threw up blood.
“I asked the doctor, ‘Am I going to die?’ And she didn’t say no, she said, ‘We have options, though,’” Tyson said. “That’s when I got nervous.”
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Tyson's Health Concerns
But there are some questioning Tyson's health ahead of his professional boxing match with Youtuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul on Nov. 15 on Netflix.
Some of Tyson's other health issues include a nagging back injury. Two years ago, TMZ shared a picture of Tyson with a cane and confirmed that he suffers from sciatica nerve pain.
According to the ClevelandClinic.org, sciatica occurs when irritation, inflammation, pinching, or compression affects the nerves running from your lower back into your legs. It's typically not serious and most people recover with time and self-care, though severe cases might require surgery.
In 2003, Tyson had the infamous interview that he broke his back in a motorcycle accident.
The Fight in Texas
The boxing match with Tyson and Paul is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 15 at AT&T Stadium. The fight can be streamed for free on Netflix.
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Texas has a more lenient athletic commission than other states and is willing to grant an older fighter the opportunity to compete. Texas is home to several large venues capable of hosting significant sporting events, such as AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Originally, the match between Tyson and Paul was scheduled for July 20. The fight was postponed to November after Tyson experienced an “ulcer flare up” while on a flight May 26. At the time, Tyson’s representatives said in a statement that the boxer was “doing great.”
Fight Details and Rules
Tyson and Paul fought at heavyweight. The fight was scheduled for eight rounds. Each round was two minutes.
Mike Tyson's Last Professional Fight
Tyson's last professional fight was on June 11, 2005, against Kevin McBride. Tyson retired after this fight, which ended when he failed to leave his corner for the 7th round, citing a lack of interest and commitment to continue boxing at that level.
In 2020, he fought in an exhibition match against former heavyweight champion Roy Jones Jr.
Jones said Tyson could still pack a punch for his age.
The Nov. 15 fight went a full eight rounds and was scored by three judges who ruled unanimously for Paul.
Mike Tyson Had an 'Ulcer Flare-Up' During Flight and Is 'Doing Great,'
Reactions After the Fight
After the fight, Tyson wrote, “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.”
Paul responded to the X post, writing, “Love you Mike. It was an honor. You’re an inspiration to us all.”
After the fight, Paul said in his post-match interview that he didn’t feel “Mike’s power” during the fight, adding that he went easy on Tyson during the third round.
Addressing fans who were hoping for a more exciting matchup, Paul said, “I tried to give the best fight I possibly could, but when someone’s just surviving in the ring, basically it’s hard to make it exciting. So I couldn’t really get him to engage me or slip shots and do something super cool or whatever, but I don’t care about what people have to say. They’re always going to have something to say and that it is what it is.”
Before his statement Saturday, Tyson said after the match he was unsure if he's done with boxing.
Tyson spoke about his loss on X Nov. 16. Tyson then shared that he “almost died” in June.
“This is one of those situations when you lost but still won. I’m grateful for last night,” he wrote. “No regrets to get in ring one last time.”
“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 wrote.