Mike Tyson facing late investigation after health admission and saying he wants to ‘die in the ring’ in Jake Paul fight
MIKE TYSON is set to be investigated after revealing the full extent of his recent harrowing health scare.
The boxing legend thought his days were numbered in May when a two-and-a-half-inch-deep stomach ulcer left him vomiting blood as it wreaked havoc on his insides.
The ulcer flare-up and subsequent hospitalisation forced the 58-year-old to postpone his controversial July clash with YouTube sensation Jake Paul and made him face up to his mortality.
Tyson recently revealed doctors didn’t rule out the prospect of him dying from the chronic illness.
And the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, who are sanctioning his showdown with Paul early on Saturday morning, are set to investigate his comments.
In a statement to World Boxing News, TLDR representative Tela Mange said: “Thorough pre-fight physicals will be conducted by TDLR-appointed physicians, who will discuss Mr Tyson’s medical history with him.”
Tyson couldn’t think about anything other than dying a gladiator’s death in the ring when he was going toe-to-toe with his bleeding ulcer.
The former undisputed heavyweight champion recalled: “I asked the doctor if I was going to die, and she didn’t say no.
“She said we have options though, and that’s when I got nervous.
“[I thought], ‘I can’t wait to get out of this motherf****r, man. God, I want to fight and start training.
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“‘I don’t want to die in the hospital bedroom, I want to die in the ring.”
Fan favourite Tyson looks to be in incredible shape for his rescheduled Texas tussle with ‘Problem Child’ Paul.
But he had to rebuild himself from scratch after his debilitating ulcer saw him lose nearly TWO STONE.
“You wouldn’t believe what I endured from my ulcer, ” he said. “I lost 26 pounds, can you imagine that?
“I was so p****d off because I had peaked. I was good, talking s**t, ready. “
Tyson will pocket a pretty penny for his Dallas dust-up with social media sensation Paul, who has claimed he’ll leave Cowboys Stadium a whopping £31million richer.
But ‘Iron Mike’ insists it’s the addictive feeling of having his hand raised that’s lured him back to the ring, not his mammoth payday.
He admitted: “I’m a glory junkie. I love people thinking about me all day.
“I’d rather live a short life of glory than a long life of obscurity. It’s just who I am.
“This is all I started fighting for—to get all this f***ing status.
“I’m going to be chasing it for the rest of my life. I know that.
“I’m never going to get what I want, because I’m one of those gluttons for pain. I can never get enough.”