Mike Tyson was so tired from a 30-second punching session four years ago that he was in bed for a week.
Tyson will return to the ring for the first time in four years when he takes on social media star Jake Paul in Texas this summer. The former undisputed heavyweight world champion ‘fought’ to a bore draw against Roy Jones Jr behind closed doors, having not fought professionally since he retired on his stool against Kevin McBride in 2005.
After Tyson’s fight with Paul was announced, the YouTuber has claimed footage of his 57-year-old opponent punching pads in 2020 proves Tyson is still dangerous. Since then, however, footage has re-emerged of Tyson telling Joe Rogan just how much that 30-second session took out of him.
Speaking to Tyson, podcast host Rogan said: “When I was watching you hit the pads, I was thinking, ‘This isn’t just working out’. There was something going on man. When you were working out with [trainer Rafael] Cordero and you were ripping into the body and throwing those hooks, I was like, ‘This is a man who is preparing to go to combat. That’s why, when I saw the video, I was like…”
Tyson jumps in to say: “You want me to tell you something about that video? I did that video and I was in bed for a week. That was 30 seconds and I was in bed for a week. And it’s not funny, because it made me realise this is big boy s***.” The footage comes after Paul took to social media to claim a member of his team had shown him the video and asked if he was sure he wanted to face Tyson.
Paul wrote, alongside the video: “He’s the greatest heavyweight of all time…the most vicious KO artist ever. But I’m younger, I’m faster and I’m going to be working my ass off to get stronger. A member of my team sent me this video that Mike’s coach put up two weeks ago and asked me if I’m sure that I want to do this…yes, yes I do. Heavyweight.”
Paul and Tyson will clash in front of a potential 80,000 crowd in Texas on July 20 but no announcement has been made as to whether the bout will be a professional one. No other details about the fight have been released, other than that it will be streamed on Netflix as the service dips its toe into boxing.
This story first appeared on Radio Today