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Mike Tyson has recounted a serious health emergency that almost derailed his fight with Jake Paul. Earlier this year, Tyson experienced a distressing incident while flying from Miami to Los Angeles. He described how he began feeling severely nauseous and dizzy, eventually vomiting blood. The situation became so alarming that flight attendants called for a doctor on board and paramedics attended to him upon landing in LA.
At the hospital, doctors discovered a large ulcer that had caused internal bleeding, with Tyson reporting symptoms such as "defecating tar."
"A week and a half ago I was training and I was doing great," he recalled.
"Then I started feeling tired. I was explaining to my trainer, I don't know what is wrong with me.
"Then coming here from Miami on the plane, I went to the bathroom and I threw up blood. The next thing I knew I was on the floor. I was defecating tar.
"I went to the hospital and they found I had an ulcer. It was two and a half inches, it was bleeding. All my friends were calling me like I was dying.
"I asked the doctor whether I was going to die and she didn't say no. She said we have options though. That's when I got nervous.'
"I just wanted to get out of that f***ing hospital bed. I don't want to die in a hospital bed. I want to die in the ring."
A postponed bout
The former heavyweight champion was closely monitored, with doctors cautioning him about the possibility of severe complications. This unexpected health issue forced Tyson and Paul to delay their original July fight date, rescheduling for November 15 at AT&T Stadium in Texas.
Tyson's fans have voiced concern over his return to the ring given his age and recent health scare, and Texas Licensing Regulators are set to conduct a medical evaluation just a day before the fight to ensure he is fit to compete.