For the past few months, the most anticipated fight in professional boxing has been the one between 27-year-old Jake Paul and 57-year-old Mike Tyson. The fight was originally scheduled for July 20th and was set to be streamed on Netflix, captivating the entire boxing world. Unfortunately, as of May 31st, the fight has been postponed.
Everyone's worst fears have been realized: The biggest concern leading up to this fight was whether Tyson was medically fit to compete, and at this point it doesn't appear that he is.
In fairness, Tyson's team and all reports claim this was a temporary flare-up and that Tyson had been feeling fine until just before, but other reports indicate otherwise.
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When was the match rescheduled?
At this time, a new date for the fight has not been announced, although on Friday, May 31, Paul and Tyson said they would announce a new date for the fight within the next week or so.
We will update this page as soon as a confirmed date is decided.
Tyson suffered a health crisis on May 27.
Four days before the fight was officially postponed, Tyson reportedly underwent a medical emergency while on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles. According to the New York Post, Tyson's representative said he suffered nausea and dizziness caused by a worsening ulcer about 30 minutes before the plane landed.
The incident caused a 25-minute delay in passengers getting off the plane while medical professionals attended to Tyson, but Tyson's representative ultimately said the former heavyweight champion was in “very good condition.”
“Following follow-up consultations with medical professionals on Thursday regarding a recent ulcer recurrence, it has been recommended that Mike Tyson continue with minimal to light training over the next few weeks, before returning to full training without restrictions,” a statement from the fight promoter read.
Of course, Tyson can't fight a boxer like Jake Paul because he can't train, but he was training hard before then. Since the fight's rescheduling was announced, Tyson has repeatedly insisted that he's still in great shape, even going so far as to claim that “my body is in the best shape it's been since the 1990s and I'll be back on a full training schedule soon.”
What health risks does Mike Tyson face?
USA Today's Josh Peter wrote Friday that he interviewed seven doctors who specialize in “gastroenterology,” which the Mayo Clinic defines as “the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal disease,” which includes treating ulcers.
None of these doctors personally treat Tyson, but they recommended that he rest for three to six weeks to fully heal. One of the doctors explained that if the ulcer is not treated, it could require emergency surgery, which would be a worst-case scenario for Tyson. Given that Tyson has already postponed his fight, not treating it seems unlikely.
What caused the ulcer?
Peter's report said the main causes of the ulcers were bacterial infection and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and that five of the seven doctors he spoke to suggested Tyson was taking NSAIDs to relieve pain caused by overtraining, which may have contributed to the ulcers.
Reactions to Paul v Tyson postponement:
Dana White: “No Comment”
White, a good friend of Tyson's, told reporters at a press conference that he has no plans to speak publicly about the Tyson vs. Paul fight: “For the first time in my life, I can't comment on anything. This is Mike's world. You know, Mike gets upset every time I talk about it. Good for him. They'll sort it out.”
White had been adamant that Tyson should not return to the ring to fight Jake Paul, but for now it appears his wish has been granted. White's comments about Tyson saying, “Good for him,” suggest that he is at least pleased that Tyson is following his doctors' advice and not pushing through serious health issues for the sake of his pride.
Jake Paul: He still hopes to knock out Mike Tyson
Jake Paul expressed his disappointment in the news about Tyson's health issues in an Instagram video. Never one to worry about coming across as arrogant, Paul was actually surprisingly respectful of Tyson, reiterating that Tyson's health came first above the fight. Paul called the news “devastating,” but remained adamant that the fight would happen. “It might have bought us some time,” Paul said, “but at the end of the day, you're going to get knocked out.”
