A doctor has issued Mike Tyson with a health warning after the heavyweight agreed to fight Jake Paul.
Mike Tyson’s coach has played down health concerns surrounding the boxing legend ahead of his fight with Jake Paul.
Tyson, 57, will return to the ring to face Paul, 27, on July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in what will be the main event of a card that will air on Netflix.
It is yet to be confirmed if the fight will be fully professional, a non-judged fight with pro rules or an exhibition bout.
Tyson has not fought since drawing with Roy Jones Jr in an exhibition match in 2020, while his last professional bout came back in 2005 against Kevin McBride, when he was stopped in six rounds before hanging up the gloves.
His decision to return to boxing has divided opinion, with some boxing fans concerned for the former heavyweight champion’s wellbeing.
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Meanwhile, a senior lecturer in medicine at Anglia Ruskin University has warned that the fight could see Tyson suffer fatal injuries.
Dr Stephen Hughes claimed that as an older man and recovering alcoholic, ‘Iron Mike’ is at risk of suffering a subdural haematoma – a tearing of veins in the brain.
However, Tyson’s trainer Rafael Cordeiro has played down those concerns and insists his fighter will be in the best possible shape heading into the bout.
“I believe we don’t have to be concerned about it,” Rafael Cordeiro said on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani.
“We’re talking about a two-time world champion. The guy didn’t have 20 fights in two years, he knows how to fight. He’s fought against the best guys in the world. When he steps inside the ring he knows what to do.”
Mike Tyson will fight Jake Paul in July (Image: Getty)
He added: “It’s not something new for Mike, and this fight is no different. He works hard every single day to go in there and try to knock Jake out from the beginning to the end.
“This is his style, nobody has teach Mike Tyson how to fight. He’s going to prove that in July. You can see fire in his eyes when he trains, and he will never give less than that.
“I truly believe it is going to be a great show. Mike is going to step into the ring as the old Mike Tyson, and he’s going to try and knock out Jake from the beginning to the end.”
