Mike Tyson is set to fight Jake Paul this summer – and it’s remarkable how he even put himself in a position to still fight in his late 50s. Aside from his strict training regimen, ‘Iron’ Mike also uses p.s.y.c.h.e.d.e.l.ic.s to prepare for battle.
The former boxing Heavyweight champion returned to the ring against Roy Jones Jr. in 2020. The exhibition, scored a draw, was Iron Mike’s first boxing match since 2005.
In between those 15 years, some of Tyson’s quality of life was a struggle. But then the boxer turned to p.s.y.c.h.e.d.e.l.i.c.s, strong dr.u.g.s that aim to result in cognitive changes to mood and perception. He claimed to Reuters that the substance changed his life.
While Tyson’s quality of life has improved, he still faces potential complications by going into the ring against Paul. Unfortunately, age isn’t on Iron Mike’s side.
Stephen Hughes, senior lecturer in medicine at Anglia Ruskin University, said according to Planet Sport, that the effects from the fight, given Tyson’s age, could cause him to develop chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain condition that could lead to anxiety, depression, confusion, dementia, and a host of other mental deficiencies. So the long-term well-being of Tyson is something to show concern about.
Another thing to be wary of is the age gap between the two fighters. Paul, also known as the “Problem Child”, is just 27, and is 30 years younger than Iron Mike. And Paul can be dangerous. In his professional boxing career, which started in early 2020, Paul has gone 9-1. Of his victories, six of them have been by knockout. Former UFC fighters Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley, have been victims of Paul’s right hand.
Plus, the Problem Child has been much more active in the ring. In the past two years, he professionally boxed in four fights, going 3-1. The scheduled fight for July 20 will be Tyson’s first bout in four years. Given the age gap and recent activity, it’s not surprising to see why Paul is a -180 favorite, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
But the match will require both fighters to wear 14-ounce gloves versus the traditional 10-ounce ones. Lighter gloves usually result in quicker and more powerful strikes. But still, the fight will feature eight two-minute rounds and will count towards both professional records. So, it may not be as friendly as an exhibition, which was the initial expectation for the Paul versus Tyson fight.
That said, the show is scheduled to go on at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Netflix users will be able to stream the fight live and watch the press conference on May 13 and May 16.
