Boxing legend Mike Tyson speaks about his health issues he faced leading up to his much-anticipated fight against Jake Paul. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) shared on Saturday, November 16, Tyson disclosed that he “almost died” due to a severe illness that had previously delayed the fight.
The match, held on November 15 and streamed live on Netflix from Arlington, Texas, marked Tyson’s return to the ring after 19 years of absence.
Jake Paul emerged victorious in the bout, but the fight attracted immense attention from fans, both in the arena and watching comfortably from home.
Despite his loss, Tyson reportedly earned a substantial $20 million, while Paul took home $40 million.
Mike Tyson Health Struggles and Fight Delay
The original match, scheduled for July 20, was postponed after Tyson suffered an “ulcer flare-up” during a flight on May 26. At the time, his representatives reassured fans, stating that the boxer was “doing great.”
However, Tyson revealing state of his condition, shares that he lost a significant amount of blood and had to undergo multiple blood transfusions.
The 58-year-old reflecting on his recovery declared that, surviving the ordeal made him the true winner, as he overcame months of health challenges before stepping back into the ring.
Tyson expresses deep gratitude to his children and fans for their unwavering support during his recovery and return to boxing.
He said their encouragement motivated him to face his near-death experience and return to the sport, even at his age and after years of being away from professional matches.
“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 — he said.
See his post below:
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…
— Mike Tyson (@MikeTyson) November 16, 2024