After 19 years away from the ring, Mike Tyson returned to the boxing ring to face off Jake Paul, but his much-anticipated return was marred by health struggles and mental battles.
- Dec 29, 2024
AceShowbiz - At 58, boxing legend Mike Tyson stepped back into the ring for the first time in almost two decades to face Jake Paul, a social media star 31 years his junior. Despite the bout's extensive build-up and Tyson's impressive perseverance, the return has left him feeling "kind of depressed."
Reflecting on his experience, Tyson mentioned the bittersweet nature of his return, "That fight was such a big ascent - we were so up and high, we were so excited. The fight's over, boom. Wow, I'm kind of depressed a little bit. We got to get back [into] our living situation [daily life], back to living."
The event, held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, was one of the most-watched sporting events ever, with over 108 million people tuning in, as revealed by FOX Sports Radio. However, the road to this high-profile fight was anything but smooth for Tyson.
Originally slated for July, the bout was pushed back to November because Tyson suffered an ulcer, setting the stage for a grueling nine months of training. He needed eight blood transfusions after losing half his blood and shedding 25 pounds during his hospital stay. Despite these odds, Tyson managed to get back in shape for the fight.
"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. Thank you," Tyson shared gratefully on social media after the bout.
Nonetheless, Tyson admitted he could remember very little about the fight itself, sharing a concerning memory lapse, "I don't remember the fight that much, I kind of blanked out. I haven't watched the fight."
"You know what I remember.... I remember coming back from the first round and Jake was doing some sort of bow. That's the last thing I remember. I wasn't tired, I wasn't sweaty."
In the end, Tyson sees the experience as a mix of victory and defeat, expressing no regrets for stepping into the ring one last time. He said, "This is one of those situations when you lost but still won. I'm grateful for last night. No regrets to get in ring one last time."
