Heavyweight boxing legend Mike Tyson suffered a health problem on a plane, but will likely still fight 27-year-old YouTuber Jake Paul on July 20.
According to British newspaper Sunsport, Tyson felt nauseous and dizzy because of a ruptured ulcer while sitting on the plane preparing for the trip from Miami to Los Angeles on May 26. The chief flight attendant immediately announced to find a doctor on the plane, then together with the medical staff immediately checked Tyson’s condition.
A member of Tyson’s team said the 57-year-old boxer had been unwell for about 30 minutes before the flight departed, but decided to travel anyway because he was improving. The person thanked the medical staff who arrived promptly to treat Tyson on board the plane, and denied that the flight was delayed due to the American boxer’s incident.
“There has been a lot of misinformation that Tyson’s medical care caused the flight delay. But the flight was delayed two hours due to an air conditioning issue,” Tyson’s representative said.
A witness said: “Tyson was sitting in first class. The flight crew asked us to stay on the plane so the medical staff could come in. The flight attendant whispered ‘he’s a really important passenger so we want to make sure he’s okay’. I whispered ‘Mike Tyson?’ and the flight attendant nodded.”
Tyson suffered from sciatica and had difficulty talking and walking. Sciatica is a condition that irritates the nerve and once affected Tyson’s back, forcing the boxer to use a wheelchair. “Sometimes I get sciatica, it flares up,” Tyson once said. “When it flares up, I can’t even talk! Thank God, that’s the only health problem I have. Now, I’m fine.”
A day after his opponent’s incident, Jake Paul denied rumors that the fight between him and Tyson was canceled. “People like to make up stories before knowing the truth to attract attention. Nothing has changed,” the 27-year-old American YouTuber wrote on social media with the hashtag #PaulTyson.
Tyson also went on social media to reassure fans, with the status: “I feel completely healthy again, even though I don’t need it to beat Jake.”
Netflix announced the fight on March 7 with a video of Paul stepping out of a helicopter and facing Tyson. The fight will be held at the Dallas Cowboys’ 80,000-seat home stadium and streamed live on Netflix. The fight immediately sparked controversy because of the 30-year age gap between Paul and Tyson, who will be 58 when he takes the stage.
The fight was immediately controversial due to the 30-year age gap between Paul and Tyson, who will be 58 when he takes the ring. On The Conversationist, Dr Stephen Hughes, a senior lecturer in medicine at Anglia Ruskin University, warned Tyson about the risk of brain damage if he fought.
Meanwhile, UFC commentator Joe Rogan even feared for his life. . “If a lot of people are against it, they won’t approve this fight. If they’re worried Tyson might die, the fight won’t happen.”
But the Texas state board approved the Tyson-Jake fight as a professional fight, and it will consist of eight two-minute rounds instead of the 10 or 12 three-minute rounds of elite boxing. The gloves will be heavier (14 ounces instead of 10), which is said to reduce the power of the punches.