Boxer Mike Tyson describes his regimen of abstinence ahead of his professional clash against Jake Paul.
Mike Tyson, aged 57, will be stepping back into the ring for a fight against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on July 20. Tyson will be 58 come the time of the event.
During an appearance on "The Damon Elliott Show," Tyson revealed he hadn't been smoking or engaging in sexual activity for three weeks. Images posted on Damon Elliott's Instagram from April 12 show both of them together, with the caption stating, "Thanks for coming to my show today!"
On April 20, Tyson disclosed to Forbes Life that his period of abstinence was actually six weeks, stating, "I haven't gotten high or had sex for six weeks."
Tyson explained, "I'm living my life in a disciplined way now, so I'm going to have to fight in a disciplined way as well."
Marijuana is prohibited by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), which regulates combat sports in the state. CNN attempted to contact Tyson for comment.
The TDLR confirmed to CNN that a professional fight has been approved with specific exemptions, meaning the fight will consist of eight three-minute rounds and both boxers will wear 14-ounce gloves.
"Iron Mike" has not fought professionally since June 2005 and holds a remarkable 50-6 record, with 44 of his victories being knockouts. He is considered one of the greatest boxers in history.
Tyson last fought in 2020, coming out of retirement to compete in an exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr., which resulted in a split-decision draw.
In anticipation for his upcoming match at the 80,000-seat capacity AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, Tyson has been putting in the work to get back in shape after several years away from boxing. He has been spotted shedding his jacket during various appearances, showcasing his physique.
Jake Paul, 27, has transformed from a YouTuber to a professional boxer and boasts a 9-1 win-loss record. His only loss came at the hands of Tommy Fury, half-brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, in February 2023.
Cannabis Industry
Tyson has been using marijuana since his youth. In an interview with Forbes Life, he explained that his win over Andrew Golota in 2000 was nullified due to his boxing license being suspended and fined following a positive drug test for marijuana.
Tyson has also launched his own cannabis brand, Tyson 2.0. Forbes estimated that the company generated $150 million in revenue last year.
The Tyson 2.0 brand offers edible products shaped like Evander Holyfield's bitten-off ear, an allusion to the heated fight between the two heavyweights, which Tyson lost. He later served a one-year suspension for this instance.
The edible called 'Mike Bites' was a collaborative venture with Holyfield's direct input. Talking to Forbes, Tyson credited his wife, Lakiha Spicer, for the idea: "My wife is a nut, but she's brilliant. One day, she asked, 'Why don't you use the ear?'"
Although Tyson considered the infamous 1997 fight to be the worst night of his professional career, it has led to a successful business venture in the cannabis industry.
"Why is it that someone like me, an uneducated person, am the face of cannabis and psychedelics? Why me? I can't even spell cannabis and psychedelics," Tyson wondered. "Why, Mike Tyson, do the universe, God, whatever you believe in, choose me to be the face of cannabis?"
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Source: edition.cnn.com
