Mike Tyson has revealed a health scare caused him to fear for his life
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Mike Tyson threw up blood in medical emergency before cancelling Jake Paul fight

07 Nov 2024, 19:33 by Kieran Horn, Martin Domin · Manchester Evening News

Boxing legend Mike Tyson has shockingly disclosed that he feared for his life following a terrifying incident on a flight, during which he collapsed and coughed up blood. Set to face Jake Paul in what is expected to be an epic showdown, the former heavyweight champion was compelled to cancel the initial July fight due to an unexpected health emergency while flying from Miami to Los Angeles.

Now aged 58, Tyson had to seek immediate medical advice and rest before he could resume training. He is now preparing to re-enter the ring to square off with Paul in Texas next week.

In a heart-wrenching account shared in the Netflix documentary "Countdown: Paul vs. Tyson", he described the horrific ordeal: "A week and a half ago I was training and I was doing great but then all of a sudden I started feeling tired. I was explaining to my trainer: 'I don't know what's wrong with me'."

"Coming here from Miami on the plane, I went to the bathroom and I threw up blood. The next thing I know I'm on the floor, I was defecating tar. So I came here and they found I had a big ulcer, two-and-a-half inches, and it was bleeding. All my friends were calling me like I was dying."

"I asked the doctor if I was going to die and she didn't say no. She said we have options though, and that's when I got nervous. I can't wait to get out of this motherf***er, man.

"God, I want to fight and start training. I don't want to die in the hospital bedroom, I want to die in the ring. You wouldn't believe what I endured from my ulcer. I lost 26 pounds, can you imagine that? I was so p***ed off because I had peaked. I was good, talking s***, ready."

Tyson hasn't stepped into the professional boxing ring since he retired mid-fight after five rounds against Kevin McBride in 2000. He made a comeback for an exhibition match with fellow boxing legend Roy Jones Jr four years ago, which ended in a dull draw.

Paul, however, has been more active, having fought 11 times since his debut in 2020, winning 10 of those bouts. His only loss was to Tommy Fury last year.

The YouTuber has mainly faced ex-MMA fighters, padding his record with victories over Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva, and Nate Diaz. His most recent fight saw him take down former UFC star and bare-knuckle boxer Mike Perry, who filled in for Tyson on the original date of their scheduled bout.