Ahem… so the toad finally croaked? Yeah, sure…in another lifetime. Before he changed gears and did a complete 180, Jake Paul almost had the entire boxing world squeaking ‘toad.’ But providence seems to have a soft spot for boxing’s ‘Problem Child.’ Perhaps he heard the age-old African proverb – ‘The ‘toad that wanted to fly ended up bursting its stomach.’ Given how the ‘Canelo’ fight caved in, Jake Paul is understandably peeved. But does that frustration need to reflect on the past?

It’s been nearly three months since he fought a 58-year-old Mike Tyson. Though a brilliant business success, the fight between the former Disney star and the boxing great received its fair share of brickbats. Most of the concerns centered around ‘Iron’ Mike’s age and health. Now just when things were finally settling down, Paul pulled a rabbit out of a hat – ahead of their fight, Tyson allegedly suffered from Parkinson’s, and guess what he opted for his healing. The borderline ridiculous statement met with an instant rebuttal from Mike Tyson’s camp. It didn’t take much time before Jake Paul admitted that he had put his foot in his mouth. But the big question remains: does Tyson really suffer from Parkinson’s?

Before we delve into the nitty-gritty of the snowballing controversy, let’s check what Jake Paul told Adin Ross during a stream. So the conversation commenced with Ross checking about Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). As it happened in the past with many boxers, he was curious to know what Paul did to reduce its chances of erupting.

Paul listed out a string of rehab approaches – from the ‘hyperbaric red light oxygen-hydrogen,’ he moved to psychedelics. “You have to do mushrooms. I do Toad…it creates neurogenesis; it repairs your brain cells,” said the Ohioan. Just when he started sharing the quantities he consumed, Jake Paul blurted out, “Ayahuasca is really good for your brain as well, and same with Toad. Toad is what cured Mike…Parkinson’s, or sorry, Toad cured, uh, Tyson’s Parkinson so that he could come back and fight.”

The revelation left Adin Ross and, clearly, scores of fans who were watching the show perplexed. That such a claim would go unnoticed would be an understatement. Team Mike Tyson wasn’t going to sit back either and watch a world in high-spiritedness.

Mike Tyson: Rumors, huh? I’m as fine as a fiddle!

Sensing the outcry his claim caused, Jake Paul quickly offered a clarification. “Bruh…Mike Tyson didn’t have no Parkinson’s. WTF. Why the f**k 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.”

On their part, Team Tyson released a strong rebuttal: “Mike is happy and perfectly healthy. He doesn’t have Parkinson’s or any other illness.” Concerns around Tyson’s health had always been all over the place. The fight with Jake Paul was actually scheduled for July 20. But Tyson’s mid-air ulcer flare led to the eventual postponement to November 15. Speaking with Sean Hannity recently, the boxing great said that due to a bleeding ulcer that was like three inches in size, he needed about 10 blood transfusions.

So fans can relax; aside from the known medical ailments that he suffers from, Mike Tyson is not afflicted with a serious neurodegenerative disease like Parkinson’s.

What’s your take on Jake Paul’s claim and explanation?