The 57-year-old champ’s match against the 27-year-old YouTuber is postponed following Tyson’s in-flight medical emergency.
Although boxer Mike Tyson was said to be “doing great” after a medical emergency during a cross-country trip sent paramedics rushing to his flight last weekend, concerns over the 57-year-old boxer’s health have prompted organizers to cancel his hotly anticipated fight against 27-year-old social media star Jake Paul.
The fight, planned for July 20, had been heavily promoted by Netflix, which had organized the event with Paul-owned company Most Valuable Promotions (MVP). But “Even Iron Mike has to follow doctor’s orders,” the streaming giant announced Friday, saying that ill health has forced Tyson to pause his training for the event.
Tyson, who was convicted of rape in 1992 and faced other allegations of sexual assault last year, was on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles last Sunday when “He became nauseous and dizzy due to an ulcer flare-up 30 minutes before landing,” a spokesperson for Tyson tells Vanity Fair. American Airlines confirms that Tyson’s flight “was met by first responders upon arrival due to the medical needs of a customer.”
According to Tyson’s longtime rep, he was treated by medical staff at the airport and then released, but later in the week, doctors advised him to step back from the rigorous training necessary to battle the 30-years-younger man.
“During a follow-up consultation on Thursday with medical professionals on his recent ulcer flare-up, the recommendation is for Mike Tyson to do minimal to light training over the next few weeks and then return to full training with no limitations,” a Tyson spokesperson says.
“I want to thank my fans around the world for their support and understanding during this time. Unfortunately, due to my ulcer flare-up, I have been advised by my doctor to lighten my training for a few weeks to rest and recover,” a quote attributed to Tyson reads.
“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.”
Some doctors who spoke with USA TODAY suggested that Tyson’s efforts to get into top fight shape might have caused the bout-delaying stomach issues. Use of over-the-counter pain relievers such as Advil, Aleve, or ibuprofen can cause debilitating sores in the stomach, small intestine, or esophagus, so if he was taking those meds as part of his recovery protocol, they might have prompted the flare-up.
