Mike Tyson suffered a medical emergency on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles on Sunday, May 27. This incident comes just two months before ‘Iron Mike’ is scheduled to face social media influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul in the ring.
Tyson’s representatives told the New York Post that he began to feel nauseous and dizzy during the flight.
An InTouch Weekly source revealed that the flight staff asked passengers if there was a doctor on board to assist him.
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The flight had already been delayed by two hours due to an air conditioning issue.
Upon landing in Los Angeles, paramedics boarded the plane to aid the 57-year-old former heavyweight champion.
Tyson’s representatives explained, “He became nauseous and dizzy due to an ulcer flare-up 30 minutes before landing. He is appreciative of the medical staff that were there to help him.”
Symptoms of an ulcer flare-up can include nausea, vomiting, bloating, belching, gas pain, chest pain, and fatigue.
News of the incident broke on Monday morning from InTouch Weekly, which reported that Tyson experienced an unspecified medical emergency, prompting the cabin crew to issue an announcement seeking a doctor just 30 minutes before landing.
An eyewitness recounted that passengers were asked to remain on the plane so paramedics could attend to Tyson. “[The stewardess] said something like, ‘He’s a really important passenger so we wanna make sure he’s okay.’ I knew it was him, but I just mouthed the words ‘Mike Tyson’ and she nodded her head yes.”
The plane was delayed for about 25 minutes while Tyson received medical attention.
Tyson, an avid marijuana user, has revealed that he has given it up in preparation for his bout with Paul, as it is on the list of banned substances by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
His publicist, Joann Mignano, told USA TODAY Sports, “He only stopped as a means of following all of the rules, but he is still a strong advocate for the medicinal benefits of cannabis for his personal well-being and others like him.”
In addition to abstaining from marijuana, Tyson has also given up sex in the months leading up to the fight. The bout, set for July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas—the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys—will be streamed on Netflix.
The fight has faced criticism due to the significant age gap between the opponents. Paul is 27 years old, 31 years younger than Tyson. Fans have also expressed skepticism about Tyson’s training clips, commenting on their brevity and questioning his stamina.
An awkward moment occurred during a press conference when the fighters were asked about their body counts by a child.
Despite being a professional bout, the fight will consist of eight two-minute rounds instead of the usual 10 or 12 rounds lasting three minutes each, and the fighters will wear heavier 14-ounce gloves instead of the standard 10-ounce gloves to reduce the number and impact of punches.
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