Mike Tyson breaks silence on pulling out of the Jake Paul fight

Mike Tyson has opened up on his decision to pull out of his original fight date with Jake Paul, with the boxing legend blaming his diet for his health issues

Boxing icon Mike Tyson has attributed his diet to the reason he had to pull out of his initial fight date with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. The 58 year old was scheduled to face 'The Problem Child' in July, but an ulcer flare-up forced him to withdraw.

Tyson's doctor advised him to halt 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-discussed match between the two is slated for November 15 at the AT&T Arena in Arlington, Texas, with up to 90,000 fans anticipated.

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.

Tyson Fury, who is now 'ulcer-free' and following a clean diet, seems ready to face off against internet star Paul. However, fans are sceptical, suspecting that 'Iron Mike' isn't fully committed to the fight.

In a recent interview with Jimmy Kimmel, 58 year old Tyson claimed he's training hard: "I am training extremely hard, I do six hours a day. I start at 11am and might leave the gym at 5pm," he said. When asked if this included a lunch break, Tyson confirmed there was a short pause, leaving Kimmel surprised.

Furthermore, when Kimmel asked if he plans to be high for the fight, Tyson responded: "I'm going to be so high off life, yeah."

When questioned about possible marijuana use, he replied: "That's a possibility, too."

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

Tyson hasn't fought professionally for nearly two decades, with his last fight being against Kevin McBride in 2005, where he suffered a fifth-round defeat. On the other hand, rising boxing star Paul made his debut in 2020 and has been regularly seen in the ring since then.

With a record of 10-1, his only loss was to Tommy Fury last year. 'The Problem Child' is set to face 'Iron Mike' after a victory over ex-UFC fighter Mike Perry in July.