Boxing legend Mike Tyson recently revealed that he lost 26 pounds due to a severe ulcer flare-up, which forced him to postpone his highly anticipated fight with social media star Jake Paul earlier this year. The 58-year-old heavyweight champion fell ill during a flight from Miami to Los Angeles in May, experiencing nausea and vomiting blood, prompting paramedics at LAX to rush him to medical care. Tyson described the ordeal as a life-threatening experience, sharing that he even questioned his own survival.

“I asked the doctor if I was going to die, and she didn’t say no,” Tyson recalled. “She said we have options though, and that’s when I got nervous.” He explained that his ulcer, which was two-and-a-half inches wide and actively bleeding, caused him significant pain and rapid weight loss. “I lost 26 pounds. Can you imagine that?” he said, expressing frustration over the setback just as he had reached peak condition. “I don’t want to die in a hospital bedroom; I want to die in the ring,” Tyson declared, emphasizing his resolve to return to training and fight.

The ulcer flare-up delayed Tyson’s match with Paul, initially scheduled for July. Now set for November 15 at AT&T Stadium in Texas, the event is expected to draw up to 80,000 fans. Despite his recent health struggles, Tyson has pushed forward with rigorous training, reportedly engaging in six-hour workout sessions. Meanwhile, Paul, riding high from a knockout victory over Mike Perry in July, enters the fight with a record of 10-1.

This clash between the veteran icon and the rising star promises to be one of the year’s most watched boxing events, though many fans still worry about Tyson’s health in the ring. Tyson hasn’t fought professionally since 2005, though he did compete in an exhibition bout against Roy Jones Jr. in 2020.