Mike Tyson won his first heavyweight world title in 1986 yet remains one of the biggest names in boxing after a busy year in and out of the ring.
‘Iron Mike’ became the youngest-ever heavyweight champion at 20, and his incredible knockout record made him a global superstar. Before his first defeat in 1990, only four of Tyson’s 37 fights had reached the final bell, giving him an unparalleled aura in the ring.
As one of the most iconic boxers of all time, Tyson has remained a popular figure, as shown by the number of fans who watched his comeback fight against Jake Paul in November. With 2024 now over, Mirror US Sport takes a look at Tyson’s most significant moments from last year that could still shape his future.
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Health issues
Tyson had been originally scheduled to face Paul in July, but a stomach ulcer flare-up delayed their fight. The 58-year-old recalled coughing up blood onboard a flight in May, with his health issues leading friends to become concerned for his life.
“Coming here from Miami on the plane, I went to the bathroom, and I threw up blood,†Tyson explained on the Countdown: Paul vs. Tyson documentary. “Next thing I know I’m on the floor and I was defecating tar.
“So I came (to the hospital), they said I had a big ulcer, two and a half inches, it was bleeding. All my friends were calling me like I’m dying.â€
Jake Paul fight admission
The incident resulted in Tyson requiring eight blood transfusions and losing around 26lbs in weight, but less than two weeks later, the new November fight date was announced. ‘Iron Mike’ made it to the ring for his first professional bout since 2005 but soon tired and failed to show any of his old magic against Paul. Speaking after his eight-round decision loss, Tyson confessed to only recalling moments from his time in the ring.
"I don't remember the fight that much, I kind of blanked out," he told Fox Sports Radio. "I haven't watched the fight. You know what I remember...coming back from the first round and Jake was doing some sort of bow... that's the last thing I remember."
A month after the fight, Tyson admitted on FOX Sports Radio that he had found it difficult to return to his usual routine. "That fight was such a big ascent-we were so up and high, we were so excited,†Tyson said. “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. [We were] training for it 9 months."
Retirement stance
Tyson was paid a reported $20million to come out of retirement and face Youtuber-turned-boxer Paul. The event was broadcast live on Netflix and the main event peaked at 65million households tuning into the action.
In the immediate aftermath, Tyson was asked if it would be his final fight and told Ariel Helwani: “I don't know. It depends on the situation. I don't think so,†he said. “I don’t know, maybe his [Jake Paul’s] brother.â€
It remains to be seen whether ‘Iron Mike’, who faced Roy Jones Jr in a 2020 exhibition bout, will lace up his gloves again but it seems he has no interest in a trilogy bout with his former rival Evander Holyfield.
Holyfield is the only man to hold two victories over Tyson, who infamously bit his opponent’s ear in their 1997 rematch. Following Tyson’s defeat in November, Holyfield called for a third fight between them. Responding to his mock-up poster on social media, Tyon replied: “I love you brother, but the trilogy is our friendship."
Netflix documentary
The fight with Paul will not be the end of Tyson’s relationship with Netflix. In December, the streaming platform announced they were in the process of making a three-part documentary series about Tyson, delving into his in-ring success and personal struggles away from the sport. A release date is yet to be announced.
“Having an opportunity to share my story through the reflective lens of my growth and maturity in a multi-part documentary on Netflix will be a challenging journey, yet a very welcoming one,†Tyson said. “Most people are too scared to look at their lives objectively, wanting to paint themselves as the hero of their own story. But if we are truly objective, we know we can never be the hero in our own story.
“We have to be able to face the man in the mirror, taking the good with the bad to give a full account of our contributions in this life. Netflix is the perfect platform to tell my story because of their global reach."