Less than two months before his first officially sanctioned fight since 2005, Mike Tyson experienced a medical scare during a flight on Sunday, requiring paramedic assistance. However, his representatives confirmed to USA TODAY Sports that he has since recovered.
In a statement shared through his publicist, Joann Mignano, Tyson’s representatives reassured, “Thankfully Mr. Tyson is doing great.” They explained that Tyson felt nauseous and dizzy due to an ulcer flare-up 30 minutes before landing but expressed gratitude to the medical staff who aided him.
Additionally, Tyson’s representatives addressed what they deemed “false reporting,” clarifying that the flight delay was unrelated to Tyson’s medical situation. Instead, they attributed the delay to an air conditioning issue on the aircraft. The incident occurred during a cross-country flight to Los Angeles on Sunday.
Tyson, who will turn 58 at the end of next month, is scheduled to face Jake Paul in a boxing match in Arlington, Texas, on July 20. The fight will be streamed live on Netflix for subscribers at no additional cost. Tyson and Paul, along with undercard fighters Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, completed a promotional tour for the fight in New York and at AT&T Stadium.
During a press conference in New York on May 13, Tyson acknowledged feeling sore from the initial stages of his training but affirmed he was “doing great.” The fight against the 27-year-old Paul will consist of eight two-minute rounds.
It remains uncertain whether Tyson’s medical condition during the flight will affect his availability for the match against Paul. Tyson’s last sanctioned fight was in June 2005, and he most recently participated in an exhibition with Roy Jones Jr. in November 2020.