Mike Tyson is set to face an opponent less than half his age. Is this advisable?
ARLINGTON, Texas – On Friday, Mike Tyson will step into the ring against Jake Paul, a fighter who is just 27 years old—less than half Tyson’s age. Although boxing inherently involves risks, experts are considering the implications of Tyson’s age ahead of this eagerly awaited Netflix event.
At 58 years old, the former heavyweight champion is poised to be one of the oldest athletes to compete in a sanctioned boxing match, particularly against someone as young as 27-year-old Paul.
“Age is just a number,” Tyson has claimed, trying to underscore this factor.
However, in May, he encountered a health scare labeled by his team as an “ulcer flare-up” while traveling from Miami to Los Angeles. This incident necessitated a hospital visit and led to a four-month postponement of the fight. Concerns about Tyson’s health continue to be amplified as the heavyweight showdown approaches at AT&T Stadium.
Medical expert Stephen Hughes, a senior lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University in England, was one of the first to express concerns regarding Tyson’s age and history of alcohol use as risk factors. In a May article for “The Conversation,” he warned that age-related head trauma could increase the dangers of experiencing a subdural hematoma, a condition that can be fatal.
A subdural hematoma occurs “when a blood vessel near the surface of the brain bursts,” as detailed by Harvard Health, highlighting how this could lead to serious complications like brain compression.
When discussing additional health risks for Tyson, Hughes made reference to the iconic Muhammad Ali, who lived with Parkinson’s disease for decades, a condition often linked to the head injuries he sustained during his illustrious boxing career.
“In some cases, a condition that resembles Parkinson’s arises from neuron loss in a brain area known as the substantia nigra,” Hughes noted. “It’s believed that Muhammad Ali may have experienced this, but it was never verified.”
Age and Reaction Time
Damon Zavala, who serves as Vice President of the Association of Ringside Physicians, asserts that the risk of subdural hematoma exists for boxers regardless of their age.
However, Zavala pointed out that Tyson’s reflexes and reaction time have diminished over the years. “Even though he retains his punching power, he is at an increased risk of getting hit due to slower reactions,” he explained.
In 2021, 58-year-old Evander Holyfield appeared fit when he fought 44-year-old Vitor Belfort but was knocked out in the first round.
Zavala recollected George Foreman mentioning a decline in reflexes during his comeback in his mid-40s. “He’d consider throwing a punch, yet it took longer to execute than before,” Zavala remarked, noting that both defensive and offensive reflexes deteriorate with age.
Nevertheless, Foreman achieved a remarkable feat, winning the unified world heavyweight championship in 1995 at the age of 45 by defeating 26-year-old Michael Moorer.
John Neidecker, a former president of the Association of Ringside Physicians, remarked that concern over Tyson’s health may be subdued among ringside doctors due to doubt regarding the fight itself. He suggested that some perceive Paul more as an entertainer than a serious boxer, which leads to hesitance in addressing health issues.
“There are many factors at play here, which may explain why many aren’t vocally opposed to a 58-year-old in the ring,” he said.
Mike Tyson Undergoes Additional Medical Testing
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation governs combat sports in the state, requiring extra medical evaluations for fighters aged 36 and over.
Since Tyson is over 36, he needed to provide satisfactory EEG and EKG results as part of his licensing process. According to Tela Mange, he complied with these requirements back in May.
The TDLR confirmed that Tyson passed a pre-fight medical checkup earlier on the day of the fight. They emphasized that “the safety of the contestants in the ring is always TDLR’s foremost priority.” This match is no exception.
Boxing promoter Lou DiBella criticized the TDLR’s decision to permit a fight for a 58-year-old.
“An average individual faces numerous hurdles to get licensed to fight in many states once they turn 40,” DiBella expressed. “How, then, in Texas is a 58-year-old allowed to partake in a professional boxing match?”
The TDLR declined any further comments regarding the sanctioning of this fight.
In 2018, a 64-year-old named Jack Lucious participated in a sanctioned professional fight in Texas, according to BoxRec. He lost by TKO in the first round of a four-round welterweight contest.
A fight promoter has asked for a sanctioned match instead of an exhibition bout. However, the regulations applied to this fight resemble those typically used in exhibitions.
“This will help lessen the impact a bit,” stated Nico Ali Walsh, grandson of boxing legend Muhammad Ali and a professional boxer. “I think the larger gloves are a precautionary measure since Mike is older than most professional fighters. He shouldn’t be competing with standard-sized gloves.”
“No sanctioning body would permit this fight if it were using 10-ounce gloves and three-minute rounds.”
Mike Tyson’s Health Concerns
Tyson often talks about age by referencing Julius Caesar, indicating that before the Julian calendar, age wasn’t recorded the same way it is currently.
In essence, he suggests that, in that era, he wouldn’t be considered old.
However, Tyson’s recent ulcer incident highlighted some serious health issues.
“I went to the bathroom and threw up blood,” Tyson shared with Netflix in a documentary series leading up to the fight. “Next thing I knew, I was on the floor.” He explained that the cause of this distress was a 2½-inch bleeding ulcer, which he discussed from a hospital bed.
Health problems have plagued Tyson over the last few years. In August 2022, he was seen in a wheelchair at Miami International Airport, attributing it to debilitating back pain from sciatica. He later underwent surgery, which alleviated his discomfort.
While getting ready for the fight against Paul, Tyson mentioned having difficulty walking due to his intense training.
When talking about his upcoming bout with Paul, and with cameras rolling, Tyson displayed a somewhat reckless mindset, saying, “If it goes poorly, I don’t want to die in a hospital; I want to die in the ring.”
