Mike Tyson has opened up about a severe health scare that almost cost him his life just months before his final boxing match against Jake Paul, where he faced defeat on points.
Mike Tyson battled back from a critical medical condition to face Jake Paul in a boxing match at the Dallas Cowboy Stadium, despite being recently wheelchair-bound and in poor health, Express reported.
During a flight before their initially scheduled bout in July, Tyson's health dramatically declined. The crisis led to an urgent need for medical intervention, as he began vomiting blood. He later revealed in an interview with New York Magazine the frightening extent of his condition, detailing how he lost half of his blood volume.
Tyson faced a grim prognosis with life-threatening implications. While hospitalized, doctors performed eight blood transfusions on him, a testament to the severity of his condition. Tyson recounted asking his doctor about the likelihood of death, to which the doctor chillingly replied that there were still options available.
The road to recovery was harsh and fraught with drastic challenges. Tyson described losing 25 pounds in just 11 days due to his inability to consume anything other than liquids. The symptoms he endured were not only painful but also grotesque, with his trips to the bathroom revealing deeply alarming signs about his bodily functions.
Amid these severe health trials, Tyson was forcibly sidelined from physical activities. His illness left him wheelchair-bound and speech-impaired, far from the formidable athlete known the world over. It was a distressing sight for fans and followers of the former heavyweight champion.
The setbacks not only challenged Tyson's physical capabilities but also threw his training regimen into disarray. He noted that his coordination and stamina were severely impacted, complicating his return to the sport. Originally feeling prepared to face Paul, Tyson found himself needing to start over from scratch.
Despite the dire circumstances, Tyson's fighting spirit was unbroken. He expressed a robust determination to not only fight back to health but also to step back into the ring. His resilience shines through his efforts to regain fitness and confront a much younger opponent, which he later described as a gratifying comeback.
The bout between Tyson and Paul went the distance, lasting eight full rounds at the packed Dallas Cowboy Stadium. The event was not just a sporting spectacle but also a moment of personal triumph for Tyson who, despite losing by points, considered it a victory against the odds.
Reflecting on his performance and the journey it took to get there, Tyson took to Twitter to articulate his feelings. He emphasized his gratefulness and absence of regret, valuing the showdown as an opportunity his children could witness, adding a profound layer to the event's significance.
Despite the loss to Paul, Tyson's view of the outcome was philosophical. He connected his survival and recovery to his undeniable victory—overcoming death's shadow to fight once more. The public sharing of his ordeal and the tenacity he displayed resonated widely, garnering respect and admiration from across the sports world and beyond.
In evaluating his future post-fight, Tyson declared his retirement from boxing at the age of 58. This decision came not only as a reflection of his recent health scare but also as a bow out from the sport to which he dedicated decades of his life.
Facing a life-threatening emergency, advocating an incredible return to combat sports, and confronting retirement, Tyson's tale is an illustrious chapter in the annals of boxing history, marked by tremendous human resilience and the stark reality of physical mortality.
