Despite the outcome of his recent fight against Jake Paul, Mike Tyson doesn’t feel like he lost.
“This is one of those situations when you lost but still won. I’m grateful for last night. No regrets to get in ring one last time,” Tyson, 58, wrote via X on Saturday, November 16. “I almost died in June. Had 8 blood transfusions. Lost half my blood and 25lbs in hospital and had to fight to get healthy to fight so I won.”
He added, “To have my children see me stand toe to toe and finish 8 rounds with a talented fighter half my age in front of a packed Dallas Cowboy stadium is an experience that no man has the right to ask for. Thank you.”
Minutes after Tyson shared his statement, Paul, 27, replied via X, saying, “Love you Mike. It was an honor. You’re an inspiration to us all.”
Earlier this year, Tyson suffered a medical emergency on a plane while traveling from Miami to Los Angeles, which his team confirmed to Us Weekly at the time was due to an ulcer flare-up.
“He became nauseous and dizzy due to an ulcer flare-up 30 minutes before landing,” his rep shared in a statement to Us in May. “He is appreciative to the medical staff that were there to help him.”
At the time, Tyson insisted that he didn’t need to be “feeling 100%” to “beat Jake Paul,” but the boxing match was still postponed from its original date in July until Friday, November 15.
“During a follow-up consultation on Thursday with medical professionals on his recent ulcer flare-up, the recommendation is for Mike Tyson to do minimal to light training over the next few weeks and then return to full training with no limitations,” read a statement from Tyson’s team posted on social media.
The statement also noted Tyson and Paul were “in agreement” over the decision to postpone, writing, “It is only fair that both athletes have equal training time to prepare for this important match and are able to compete at the highest level.”
Paul ultimately won the November match, which took place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The event streamed live globally on Netflix.
“It’s such an honor. He’s a legend. He’s the greatest to ever do it. I’m inspired by him,” Paul said following his win. “This man is an icon. It’s an honor to be able to fight him. It was really tough, like I expected it to be.”
Tyson was gracious in his defeat, saying after the match, “I didn’t prove nothing to anybody, only to myself. I’m not one of those guys that wants to please the world. I’m only happy with what I can do.”
