LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson's planned meeting in the ring with YouTuber Jake Paul has been postponed due to recent concerns about Tyson's health, fight organizers said on Friday.
Publication date: 2024/01/06 – 00:27
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The 57-year-old Tyson required medical treatment on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles on Sunday after complaining of nausea and dizziness following the incident, which occurred just under two months before he is set to fight Paul in Texas on July 20.
Tournament organizers said in a statement on Friday that Tyson had been advised to undertake only minimal training over the coming weeks after being examined by doctors on Thursday, and revealed that he was suffering from a “recurrence of an ulcer.”
“Mike Tyson is encouraged to continue minimal to light training over the next few weeks before returning to full training without restrictions,” the statement said.
“Both Mike and Jake agree that it is fair for both fighters to have equal training time in preparation for this important match so they can compete at the highest level.”
“The health and wellbeing of our athletes is our number one priority and we fully support Mike in taking the time he needs to perform at the level he expects of himself.”
A new date for the match, which will be streamed live by streaming service Netflix, will be announced by June 7, the statement said.
Tyson insisted he was “100%” on Tuesday despite Sunday's health issues and will be in tip-top shape when the showdown with Paul eventually takes place.
“I want to thank my fans around the world for their support and understanding during this time,” Tyson said in a statement.
“Unfortunately, the ulcer has recurred and doctors have advised me to refrain from training for a few weeks to rest and recover.
“My body is generally in better shape than it has been since the 1990s and I plan to return to a full training schedule very soon.
“Jake Paul, this might buy you a little bit of time, but in the end you're going to get knocked out and banned from boxing forever.”
Meanwhile, Paul said he supported postponing the match.
“I fully support postponing the event so that Mike Tyson has no excuses on fight day,” Paul said.
Tyson, who turns 58 in June, was scheduled to face the 27-year-old Paul in a professional bout sanctioned by the Texas Boxing Association and featuring eight two-minute rounds.
However, several members of the boxing community, including former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, had expressed concerns about the bout, citing the possibility of Tyson being injured.
Tyson dismissed the fears at a press conference earlier this month, saying the decision to return to the ring was “a no-brainer.”
“I'm beautiful, that's all I can say,” Tyson said. “The people who say that wish they were here. No one else can do this.”
Tyson, who terrorized the heavyweight world as the self-proclaimed “baddest man on the planet” in the 1980s and 1990s, fought for the last time as a professional in 2005.
© 2024 AFP
