Mike Tyson Admits He Is ‘Depressed’ After Jake Paul Payday

Some boxers are just born to fight, and when they can’t—life becomes dull. Former heavyweight world champion and a living legend of the sport, Mike Tyson seems to be suffering from the same affliction. ‘The Baddest Man on the Planet’ is coming off a unanimous decision loss to YouTube star turned boxer Jake Paul. 

The pair fought back on November 15th at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, which created history by attracting the most concurrent viewers on Netflix. In the lead-up to the fight, Tyson showcased a rejuvenated spirit to get back in the ring more than two decades after for a professional boxing match. 

Social media was littered with his training footage and promises of knockouts and mayhem. While his age stopped him from delivering on his promise, it appears the aftermath of the fight has left the youngest heavyweight champion craving more action—so much so that the 58-year-old has claimed that he is now depressed. 

While appearing in an interview with Steve Covino and Rich Davis of Fox Sports Radio a few days ago, ‘Iron’ Mike expressed his post-Jake Paul fight depression. During the interview, Covino pressed Tyson about what keeps him happy with the fight done and dusted. “This is what we were talking about.”

Tyson immediately jumped at the question. 

“That fight was such a big ascent—we were so up and high, we were so excited,” Tyson told Steve Covino. “The fight’s over, boom. Wow, I’m kind of depressed a little bit. We got to get back [into] our living situation [daily life], back to living. [We were] training for it 9 months.” Tyson reportedly got paid $20 million from the Paul fight.

Many have speculated Tyson’s primary motivation for accepting the fight was financial gain. However, ‘Iron’ Mike has consistently denied these allegations. Additionally, there have been claims that the fight was rigged, with accusations that Tyson was paid to lose.

MVP responds to Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight rigged claims

Most Valuable Promotions have vigorously denied allegations that Jake Paul’s unanimous decision victory over Mike Tyson on November 15 was fixed. The fight, which drew an $18.1 million gate and over 108 million Netflix viewers, faced backlash after Tyson’s lackluster performance led skeptics to question its legitimacy.

In a statement, MVP called the allegations “illogical and inane,” asserting that both fighters competed without restrictions. “Each boxer was able to use his full arsenal to win the fight. Any agreement to the contrary would violate TDLR boxing rules,” the statement read. Nakisa Bidarian, MVP’s co-founder, dismissed the claims as baseless. 

“Jake has not only proven himself repeatedly, but he continues to set historic records that speak for themselves,” his statement said. Despite the controversy, MVP emphasized Paul’s achievements, calling the event “another example of his ability to deliver on the biggest stage.”

That said, it appears Mike Tyson is still adjusting to normal life after the excitement of the Jake Paul fight last month. However, given his age, a lack of action might just be the thing he needs the most. What are your thoughts on Tyson’s statement?