Mike Tyson was bested by Jake Paul last month (Image: AP)
has decided not to return to boxing after losing to , following discussions with his wife.
The former heavyweight world champion took part in his first professional fight since 2005 against the YouTuber-turned-boxer in November. Despite many in the boxing community believing he could pull off an upset, Tyson failed to land any significant punches and suffered a unanimous decision defeat in Texas. After the match, Tyson expressed interest in another bout, even challenging Jake’s older brother Logan.
However, he later admitted on Twitter he almost died while preparing for his comeback. “This is one of those situations when you lost but still won. I’m grateful for last night,” he said. “No regrets to get in ring one last time. I almost died in June. Had eight 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 eight 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.”
Tyson seems to have hung up his gloves for good, according to his son Amir. In a revealing interview with Seconds Out, Amir shared insights from Tyson’s inner circle, saying: “I think he’s done. My stepmom, she’s saying he’s done and they’re a team. That’s husband-and-wife stuff.”
Addressing the controversy surrounding Tyson’s last fight, Amir dismissed claims of it being fixed: “Some people are on that bogus ‘Oh, it’s rigged’. We know it wasn’t rigged. He just got tired. Jake would move out the way. It looked like he pulled his punches back but Jake’s moving. It’s not like the pads, he’s moving.”
He added, “When someone doesn’t want to accept that someone lost, when it doesn’t go that way of course they’re gonna pull that. And that’s what they’re putting on the internet. His gas tank after the third round was just shot. That’s all it was. He just kept on staying throughout. He did his best. No holding back, he did the best he could at his age.”