Boxing legend Mike Tyson provides health update ahead of Jake Paul fight

Mike Tyson was set to face Jake Paul in a long-awaited boxing bout back in July, but the fight was called off after the 58-year-old boxing legend was hospitalised with an ulcer

Mike Tyson has opened up about the real reasons behind his withdrawal from his original fight with Jake Paul in July. The iconic 58 year old boxer was set to face off against 27 year old YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on July 20.

However, due to health issues, Tyson had to step down. In Tyson's absence, Paul went on to defeat stand-in opponent Mike Perry - a UFC veteran turned bare-knuckle fighter - through a sixth-round TKO, after dominating with powerful body shots right from the start, pushing his record up to 10-1 in professional boxing.

Now, Paul's attention has returned to 'Iron' Mike, with the two legends scheduled for a much-anticipated bout in the ring next month. But what exactly led to Tyson stepping down initially?

What health problems did he face?

Back in May, on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles, Tyson suffered an aggravating ulcer that left him feeling dizzy.

Paramedics who met the then 57 year old at LAX confirmed the incident. A statement later clarified: "Thankfully Mr. Tyson is doing great."

"He became nauseous and dizzy due to an ulcer flare-up 30 minutes before landing. He is appreciative to the medical staff that were there to help him."

Tyson told Mail Online a dietary slip was to blame, saying: "I was doing too much bad food and stuff, and I got sick."

What was the impact for the Jake Paul fight?

Tyson faced a setback when doctors recommended he take a break from his training for a few weeks following his health scare. Ordinarily, such a hiatus would be less consequential, but with his fight with Paul looming just months away, it meant missing crucial prep time.

Consequently, Tyson withdrew from their scheduled bout, leaving Paul to triumph over Perry in a substitution match that concluded in six rounds. Since then, Tyson has cleaned up his act diet-wise, announcing not only is he ulcer-free but he's also ready for next month's confrontation with the online star, dedicating six hours daily to ensure he is at peak condition to showcase peak performance.

What is the new fight date?

Originally scheduled for July 20, the match has now been moved to November 15. The ATandT Stadium in Arlington, Texas, will still host the event, with up to 90,000 fans expected to attend.

The heavyweight professional bout, sanctioned by The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, means that a victory for Paul would take his record to 11-1. Paul has been remarkably active since turning professional four years ago, defeating numerous high-profile figures in combat sports, including ex-UFC stars Nate Diaz, Anderson Silva, Tyron Woodley, and Ben Askren.

His sole defeat was a split-decision loss to Tommy Fury last February.

Despite Tyson's previous status as a heavyweight world champion, he hasn't stepped into the professional ring since his 2005 loss to Kevin McBride. However, he did return for an eight-round exhibition match with Roy Jones Jr in 2020, which concluded in a draw after going the full distance.

With a total record of 50-6-2(NC), a victory over Paul next month could bolster Tyson's record further, adding to his impressive list of past triumphs, which includes names like Frank Bruno, Michael Spinks, Carl Williams, and Bruce Seldon, among others.