Mike Tyson has revealed he’s still vaping ahead of his fight with Jake Paul as he prepares to come out of retirement.
The 58-year-old established himself as one of the best heavyweights on the planet during his prime years, with 44 of his 50 victories coming via knockout.
His fight with Paul looks set to be one of the biggest of his entire career, however.
The boxing icon is facing a fighter 31 years his junior. And while Paul is a divisive figure, his record of 10 victories from 11 bouts speaks for itself.
Tyson has been working hard as the battle approaches, with the veteran uploading various posts and footage of himself hitting the pads on social media.
But he’s now revealed to the Daily Mail that he’s still vaping, despite the clash being just one month away.
“Can’t escape the vapes,” he told the publication at a LF*GO! press conference.
The bout will be Tyson’s first in four years, with his last showdown against Roy Jones Jr taking place in 2020.
His clash with Paul was initially set to take place on July 20, only for an ulcer flare up to see the clash postponed.
Tyson insists he’s recovered, however.
After admitting that he ‘got sick’, the boxing icon has cut out ‘processed foods’. He says he wasn’t eating well enough, which is why the delay was enforced.
Tyson will, however, have to pass some rigorous tests in order to return to the ring. Many figures associated with the sport, including Eddie Hearn, believes it is ‘sad’ that the bout is going ahead.
“If I was Jake Paul I’d just feel a little bit embarrassed to be honest with you. It’s a liberty,” Hearn told the BBC.
“This is dangerous, irresponsible and, in my opinion, disrespectful to the sport of boxing.”
The boxing promoter added: “The reality is that 20 years ago when Mike Tyson retired from the sport he was shot, completely finished.
“It was actually sad to watch then, 20 years ago.”
Paul, for his part, is unfazed by the criticism he’s received.
The 27-year-old has been tipped to quit boxing once the clash with Tyson is over. Speaking recently, however, he insisted he’d merely take a ‘little break’ to recharge his batteries before returning to the sport.
“I feel like I’m gonna take a little break,” Paul said.
“I’m gonna keep fighting for sure.
He added: “One shot could change the whole entire fight. At the end of the day there’s always going to be critics no matter what you do.
“That’s the nature of humanity… you can never satisfy people so I don’t waste my energy trying to do that.
“I’m just doing what I think is cool and that’s fighting Mike Tyson.”