"I do not have the guts to be in this sport anymore," Tyson said. "I don't want to disrespect the sport that I love. My heart is not into this anymore. I'm sorry for the fans who paid for this."
That was said 20 years ago. Two decades.
Just two years ago, Tyson was photographed in a wheelchair and holding a walking stick at the Miami International Airport. Tyson later confirmed in an interview with Newsmax that he has "sciatica every now and then" and when it flares up, he "can't even talk."
Sciatica is pain that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve, from the glutes down each leg. Usually, it's caused by a herniated disk, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Tyson's back issues also date back more than 20 years ago, to his final fights during his boxing career.
And then, five months ago:
"I had a big ulcer, two-and-a-half inches, and it was bleeding," Tyson said. "All my friends were calling me like I was dying. I asked the doctor if I was going to die, and she didn't say 'No.' ... You wouldn't believe what I endured from my ulcer. I lost 26 pounds."
Mike Tyson is 58 years old and hasn't fought a real fight in 20 years.
This is apparently a sanctioned fight (intended to mean "real" fight), with some changes made from typical matches. Despite the governing body sanctioning it, I question what agreements the Paul and Tyson teams have in place off the books. I strongly suspect it will not be a real fight but I'm always ready to be happily surprised. Maybe not happily, although it will be a spectacle I believe 58 is too old to be in a boxing ring taking real shots from capable fighters.