Mike Tyson, the legendary boxing champion, has firmly denied recent claims that he is secretly battling Parkinson’s disease. The 58-year-old athlete’s health became a topic of public discussion after he experienced a medical emergency related to an ulcer ahead of his scheduled fight with YouTuber Jake Paul. This incident led to the postponement of the bout, which was rescheduled for November 2025.
Tyson’s health came under further scrutiny following remarks made by Jake Paul over the weekend. Paul, 28, claimed during an online interview on February 16 that Tyson had used psychedelic drugs to “cure” Parkinson’s, leading to speculation about the former boxer’s condition.
In response to these claims, Tyson’s representatives swiftly issued a statement to TMZ, asserting that the former world champion is in good health. “Mike is happy and perfectly healthy. He doesn’t have Parkinson’s or any other illness,” the statement read.
Paul, who has been vocal about his use of psychedelic substances, had suggested in his interview with influencer Adin Ross that the use of “toad”—a reference to the psychoactive compound found in certain toads—had helped Tyson overcome Parkinson’s symptoms. “Toad cured Tyson’s Parkinson’s so that he could come back and fight,” Paul stated.
However, following backlash and confusion on social media, Paul took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify his comments. In a post, Paul apologized for his misstatement, writing: “Bruh… Mike Tyson didn’t have no Parkinson’s … WTF. Why the f*** is the internet so stupid for. I misspoke. Meant he used toad to heal his pain. He has spoken about it many times. Just like I do. Just like many do.”
Tyson’s medical emergency in June 2024, which led to significant health complications, including a severe blood loss and multiple transfusions, had already raised concerns about his well-being. Despite this, Tyson, who made a controversial return to the ring for a bout with Paul, expressed no regrets about stepping back into the boxing world.
In a post-fight statement on X, Tyson reflected on the experience, saying, “This is one of those situations when you lost but still won. I’m grateful for last night. No regrets to get in the ring one last time.”
He also opened up about his health scare, adding, “I almost died in June. Had 8 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 8 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’s denial of the Parkinson’s claims and his continued reflection on his health journey come as the boxing world continues to speculate about his future in the sport.
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