Mike Tyson revealed that he had eight blood transfusions, lost 25 pounds in the hospital and “almost died” in June, one month before his Netflix bout with Jake Paul was originally scheduled to happen and around five months before it actually unfolded Saturday night.
“This is one of those situations when you lost but still won,” Tyson, 58, wrote in his first X post since Paul defeated the legendary boxer by unanimous decision. “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.”
Saturday marked the first sanctioned fight for Tyson — who also added “thank you” and a praying hands emoji to the end of his post — since 2005, and he entered the bout with a career record of 50-6.
But the health scare loomed over the fight, and Tyson appeared a step or two behind Paul for most of the fight — especially during the third round and beyond — as the 27-year-old YouTuber landed punch after punch, with Tyson only countering at a fraction of that clip.
Tyson sustained an ulcer flare-up and suffered a medical emergency while on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles in May, which eventually led to the fight being postponed less than a week later.
“I want to thank my fans around the world for their support and understanding during this time,” Tyson said in a statement at the time of the postponement. “Unfortunately, due to my ulcer flareup, I have been advised by my doctor to lighten my training for a few weeks to rest and recover. My body is in better overall shape than it has been since the 1990s and I will be back to my full training schedule soon.
“Jake Paul, this may have bought you some time, but in the end you will still be knocked out and out of boxing for good. I appreciate everyone’s patience and can’t wait to deliver an unforgettable performance later this year.”
That vintage night, though, did not materialize.
The three judges each awarded the fight to Paul, turning the Netflix spectacle into a disappointment as 60 million viewers tuned in and dealt with buffering issues and then an ultimate fight where Tyson resembled a shell of the version he competed at during the prime of his career.
Some fans claimed that Paul “carried” Tyson through the fight and appeared to not want to knock him out, which Paul seemingly admitted during his press conference following the fight.
“I wanted to give the fans a show,” Paul said, according to NBC News, “but I didn’t want to hurt someone that didn’t need to be hurt.”
Paul, in a reply to Tyson’s post on X, wrote, “Love you Mike. It was an honor. You’re an inspiration to us all.”
