Mike Tyson says he ‘blanked out’ and can't remember most of Jake Paul fight
'I don’t remember it. But my body was really sore (after the fight). My chest, my stomach was really sore'
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The evidence keeps mounting that maybe Mike Tyson shouldn’t have stepped into the boxing ring with Jake Paul.
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Mike Tyson says he ‘blanked out’ and can't remember most of Jake Paul fight Back to video
The former heavyweight champion of the world made a shocking admission that not only did he “blank” out during the fight, but he can’t remember most of the match to this day.
The 58-year-old boxing legend and the YouTuber-turned-boxer went a full eight rounds in their fight last month at AT&T Stadium in Dallas and were widely criticized for the contest, which many believed was fixed.
Paul won via unanimous decision and admitted after the fight that he was “carrying” Tyson through the bout and didn’t want to hurt the ex-champ.
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According to the fight statistics, Tyson landed just 18 punches through the eight two-minute rounds.
During an interview with Fox News this week, the former heavyweight champ revealed that he can’t remember anything from the match.
“I don’t remember the fight that much, I kind of blanked out a little,” Tyson told the outlet.
“I remember coming back from the first round and Jake is doing some kind of … I don’t know what he was doing (Tyson leans forward pretending to bow) and that’s the last thing I remember.”
Tyson is referring to the closing moments of the match, when Paul bowed to show respect to the man once known as the Baddest Man on the Planet.
That would mean Tyson did not remember almost seven full rounds of boxing action, from the start of the second round until the end of the eighth.
Iron Mike also was asked about Paul’s punching power, but his memory is foggy and all he remembers is waking up the next day and being sore.
“I don’t remember it. But my body was really sore (after the fight). My chest, my stomach was really sore,” he said.
Tyson finally revealed that, after reflection the following day, he regrets stepping back into the ring after his lengthy hiatus – his previous professionally sanctioned bout game nearly 20 years ago.
“The day after I woke up and said to my wife, ‘why did I do that?’ I just don’t know what the hell was going on,” Tyson said.
He already had made another shocking revelation just a day after the bout, sharing that he had nearly died from his ulcer flare that had postponed the fight from its original July date.
Tyson said that he had several blood transfusions, lost 25 lbs and “half” of his blood after the medical emergency.
“This is one of those situations when you lost but still won,” the 58-year-old wrote on X.
“I’m grateful for last night. No regrets to get in ring one last time.
“I almost died in June. Had 8 blood transfusions. Lost half my blood and 25lbs (11kg) in hospital and had to fight to get healthy to fight so I won.
“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.”
Paul replied to the post: “Love you Mike. It was an honor. You’re an inspiration to us all.”
Tyson also is facing some legal trouble stemming from the fight.
He has been sued for more than $1.5 million by a Cyprus-based company that claims he wrongfully broke a promotional contract in order to fight Paul.
Medier, which promotes betting company Rabona, filed the suit in London’s High Court against Tyson and his company Tyrannic.
The suit claims Tyson terminated the deal in March by alleging that Medier breached their agreement, which had been signed in January.
“The true reason for Mr. Tyson and Tyrannic’s hasty and unlawful termination was because Mr. Tyson had agreed a deal, sponsored by Netflix, to fight the influencer Jake Paul,” the lawsuit states.
Medier seeks the return of more than $800,000 in fees paid to Tyson “in return for which no services were provided” and $729,000 in “wasted production and promotion costs,” according to the filing.
–With Associated Press files
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