Mike Tyson Reveals He Nearly Died In June, Lost 25 Pounds & Had 8 Rounds Of Blood Transfusions Before Jake Paul Fight

One of the ironic takeaways from Netflix's mega hit (if somewhat laggy) boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul was just how anticlimactic the main event was. Don't get me wrong. The evening-into-morning grotesquerie at AT&T Stadium wasn't without its compelling moments. Between fans getting into their own fights in the stands, entertaining undercard bouts, the smoke showiness of viral ring girl Sydney Thomas, and yes, Iron Mike's ubiquitous pre-fight a** shot, we got exactly the carnival we should've expected. That includes a laughable Paul-Tyson duel that Jake won via unanimous decision against a fighter 31 years his senior. Considering Tyson is 58 years old and was wearing a knee brace due to an obvious injury, it was more of a relief than anything else that Paul didn't knock him to the canvas. Somehow, Mike made it through the final bell. Went the distance for eight rounds. Turns out, we should all be even more impressed with the all-time great boxer if we take him at his word. In the aftermath of his loss, Tyson saw the many silver linings and insisted he didn't really lose in the traditional sense. Indeed, the handsome payday alone (an estimated $20 million) counts as a humongous win. But that's not what we should focus on. Get a load of what Tyson endured just to get himself somewhat in shape and reenter the ring. "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. 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. 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." https://twitter.com/MikeTyson/status/1857886940097556646 Damn. How did Tyson bulk up enough in time to be anywhere close to fight-ready? Not a clue. Is this testimony somewhat hyperbolic for dramatic effect? It sounds too specific to be made-up. Not that I, like, inherently trust Mike Tyson, but it's pretty bonkers that he allegedly lost half his blood mere months before squaring off with Paul. Although Paul got butt hurt when Tyson slapped him in the face during their weigh-in, he paid his respects to the man once the bout was over. https://twitter.com/netflix/status/1857664222420939025 https://twitter.com/jakepaul/status/1857865402241441964 It's something of a miracle that Tyson was able to stand. A lot of the discourse from the Netflix commentators revolved around how Tyson's legs look shot. Yeah well, remember that he's 58 years old, y'all! I found it a strange thing for these expert analysts to dwell on in real time, but I digress. Paul was able to just keep his distance, avoid Tyson's reach on many failed jab attempts, and did enough damage to knock the over-the-hill fighter off his game. Everyone tuned in hoping to see Tyson reach back one last time and connect on a knockout punch. It wasn't meant to be. While I doubt the outcome would've been that much different even if Tyson didn't allegedly need all these blood transfusions, it does thicken the plot ever so slightly. No chance these two meet in a rematch. In fact, Tyson should hang up the boxing gloves altogether. Tyson has said he doesn't give a damn about legacy. All he's apparently trying to prove anything to is himself. Even his most passionate intrinsic motivation and ambitions shouldn't lead to another bout. His body was already trying to quit on him months before he officially faced Paul. Got out on top, Mike, take the money, and stay retired!