Mike Tyson-Jake Paul boxing bout postponed due to Tyson’s recent ulcer flare up

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 13: (L-R) Mike Tyson and Jake Paul speak onstage at the press conference in promotion for the upcoming Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match at The Apollo Theater on May 13, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images for Netflix)
By Mark Puleo
May 31, 2024

Mike Tyson and Jake Paul’s boxing match will be postponed indefinitely due to Tyson suffering from a recent ulcer flare-up, according to Netflix. The streaming service was scheduled to broadcast the event on July 20.

According to a statement from Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), Tyson has been recommended by doctors to do minimal light training over the next few weeks.

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A new date for the fight will be announced by next Friday, June 7.

“I want to thank my fans around the world for their support and understanding during this time. Unfortunately, due to my ulcer flare-up, I have been advised by my doctor to lighten my training for a few weeks to rest and recover,” Tyson told Netflix, before adding that his body is in better overall shape than it has been in decades.

Paul said he supports the postponement, “So Mike Tyson has no excuses come fight night.”

Netflix said previously purchased tickets for the event, which was set to be held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, will be honored for the new date of the bout to come.

Both boxers made clear they intend for the fight to still happen in the near future.

“MVP anticipates rescheduling the match to later this year at AT&T Stadium, and we look forward to an exciting and well-prepared contest between these two exceptional athletes,” the promotional company said Friday.

On Sunday, Tyson suffered a medical incident on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles, in which he became “nauseous and dizzy due to an ulcer flare-up 30 minutes before landing,” according to a statement from his representatives.

In Touch Weekly was first to report that the former world heavyweight champion had a medical emergency on the plane. About 30 minutes before the plane’s landing, the crew asked passengers if a doctor was on board, and paramedics eventually boarded the plane to attend to Tyson, according to In Touch Weekly.

go-deeper

GO DEEPER

Mike Tyson 'doing great' after medical emergency

Paul, 27, owns a 9-1 record since the former social media star turned professional in January 2020. He fought former NBA player Nate Robinson on the undercard of Tyson’s fight against Roy Jones Jr. in November of the same year.

Tyson, 57, owns a 50-6-2 professional record. The fight with Paul will be his first professional bout since 2005, when he retired midfight against Kevin McBride. That loss was his third in four fights. Since then, he was partaken in multiple exhibition bouts, most recently against Roy Jones Jr. in 2020. That fight was declared a draw after eight rounds.

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MVP announced in April that Tyson and Paul agreed to compete in their match as a sanctioned professional fight. The bout will be contested over eight two-minute rounds with 14-ounce gloves.

Legendary women’s featherweight champion Amanda Serrano is still scheduled to compete in the card’s co-main event. She will take on undisputed super lightweight world champion Katie Taylor. Serrano is considered by many to be the greatest female boxer ever, and previously fought in the co-main event of a card headlined by Paul in August, 2023.

(Photo: Sarah Stier / Getty Images for Netflix)

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Mark Puleo

Mark Puleo is a News Staff Editor at The Athletic. Before joining The Athletic, Mark covered breaking weather news as a digital journalist and front page digital editor with AccuWeather. He is a graduate of Penn State University and its John Curley Center for Sports Journalism. Follow Mark on Twitter @ByMarkPuleo