Mike Tyson breaks silence on pulling out of Jake Paul fight

Mike Tyson is set to lock horns with Jake Paul next month in a fight that has split opinion across the boxing community, and the former heavyweight champion has now broken his silence on the bout

Boxing legend Mike Tyson has blamed his diet for having to withdraw from his original fight date with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. The 58 year old was set to face 'The Problem Child' in July, but had to pull out due to an ulcer flare-up.

Tyson was advised by his doctor to stop training, but he's now back in the gym and insists he'll be ready to take on the 27 year old next month. The much-debated match between the two is set to happen on November 15 at the AT&T Arena in Arlington, Texas, with up to 90,000 fans expected.

The fight will be recognised as a professional bout in the heavyweight division. Since the fight was rescheduled, many in the boxing community have criticised the decision to proceed, expressing concerns for Tyson's health.

In a recent interview with Mail Online, 'Iron Mike' revealed he is now 'ulcer-free', attributing his previous health issues to his diet. "I was doing too much bad food and stuff, and I got sick,'' he said. Tyson now says he's avoiding 'processed foods' and is 'eating clean' ahead of his showdown with the young American. Tyson shared his views on the fight's potential impact on his reputation, revealing a strong indifference towards critics' opinions about the bout's implications for his storied legacy. "I didn't take this fight for legacy," he declared. "I think legacy really, to my perspective, legacy is ego.

Who gives a f*** how people think about them when they are gone?, reports the Mirror.

I'm dead. I can't value off what somebody might think about me when I'm dead, so it means nothing to me.

" Now 'ulcer-free' and embracing a clean diet, Tyson seems ready for the face-off against the internet star, yet fans remain sceptical, suspecting that 'Iron Mike' isn't fully committed to the fight with Paul. In a recent sit-down with Jimmy Kimmel, Tyson, aged 58, claimed his training schedule is intense: "I am training extremely hard, I do six hours a day. I start at 11am and might leave the gym at 5pm," he shared. A surprised Kimmel questioned whether that included a lunch break, to which Tyson confirmed a short pause, prompting Kimmel to exclaim in shock: "Oh no.

" Furthermore, asked by Kimmel whether he plans to be high for the fight, Tyson responded: "I'm going to be so high off life, yeah. " When probed about possible marijuana use, he answered: "That's a possibility, too.

" Kimmel, half-jokingly, then remarked: "Oh no my bet is getting lower as we talk. ".

Tyson hasn't stepped into the professional boxing ring for almost two decades. His last fight was against Kevin McBride in 2005, where he faced a fifth-round defeat.

On the other hand, Paul, the rising boxing star, made his debut in 2020 and has been regularly seen in the ring since then. With a record of 10-1, the American's only loss was to Tommy Fury last year.

'The Problem Child' is set to face 'Iron Mike' following a victory over ex-UFC fighter Mike Perry in July.