Current:Home > ScamsMike Tyson explains why he's given up sex and marijuana before Jake Paul bout on July 20 -Keystone Growth Academy
Mike Tyson explains why he's given up sex and marijuana before Jake Paul bout on July 20
View
Date:2025-04-17 00:55:27
Mike Tyson says he’s given up more than marijuana while preparing for his fight against Jake Paul.
The former heavyweight champion also said he’s given up sex.
"Two and a half weeks I haven’t smoked," Tyson said during an interview on The Damon Elliott Show. "And I haven’t had sex for 2½ weeks."
A video of the undated interview was posted on YouTube on Saturday.
In an videotaped interview with Forbes Life, Tyson said it'd been even longer – “probably for six weeks I haven’t gotten high or had sex."
Tyson, 57, told Forbes his giving up marijuana and sex is connected with discipline as he prepares to face Paul, 27, in a bout scheduled for July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
"I’m living my life disciplined now, so I’m going to have to fight disciplined now," he said.
Tyson, during a 2018 TV interview, said he’d abstained from sex for about five years, apparently because he believed it would make him a better boxer.
"I'm an idiot, you know," he told Graham Bensinger during the interview back then. "… I just went by what people told me."
Tyson’s publicist told USA TODAY Sports the boxer was giving up marijuana to comply with rules in the fight with Paul. Marijuana is on the list of banned substances enforced by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, which oversees combat sports in Texas.
Mike Tyson disrobes – from waist up
During his professional boxing career, Tyson was well known for wearing black trunks. More recently, he’s gaining attention for what he's not wearing.
In March, a week after his fight with Paul was announced, Tyson was shirtless and hurling a medicine ball against the ground in a video posted on his Instagram account. Earlier this month, photos of Tyson shirtless at a memorabilia show were posted on his Instagram account.
The caption on one of those photos read: "Yes I did go shirtless, to show you what you’re betting on."
The phenomenon continued during his interview on The Damon Elliott Show. This time Tyson blamed the lack of air conditioning as he took off his shirt – and took pride in his physique.
"It’s just an unbelievable situation at this particular moment," the boxer said with a smile. "Mike Tyson at 58 looks like an Adonis superstar."
Tyson will turn 58 on June 30.
Mike Tyson says friends, family a problem
The interview with Damon Elliott took an unexpected turn when Tyson was asked if preparing for the fight is nerve-wracking.
"No," Tyson replied, "I said, 'Wow, how many friends am I going to lose or family members are going to turn on me now?'"
Because they all want the freebies, Elliott asked.
"No, they get them anyway, but they’re still going to hate me anyway," Tyson said. "I’m going to give them everything and they’re still going to say, '(expletive) you. I hate you.'"
"I can handle my enemies," Tyson continued. "But, God, please protect me from my family and friends. I can handle my enemies. Enemies are no problem. I just got my family and my friends that are just kinda a small complication."
Tyson suggested the problem stemmed from his being in the spotlight.
"It’s always been shining on me," he said. "The darker I was, the more it shined."
veryGood! (45)
Related
- Former Danish minister for Greenland discusses Trump's push to acquire island
- #SwedenGate sparks food fight: Why some countries share meals more than others
- That smiling LinkedIn profile face might be a computer-generated fake
- 2023 Coachella & Stagecoach Packing Guide: 24 Problem-Solving Beauty Products You Need To Beat the Heat
- Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
- King Charles III coronation guest list: Who's invited and who's stuck at home?
- A Mariupol native has created a site for residents to find missing loved ones
- Second convoy of U.S. citizens fleeing Khartoum arrives at Port Sudan
- Appeals court scraps Nasdaq boardroom diversity rules in latest DEI setback
- DeLorean is back (to the future) with an electric car, and some caveats
Ranking
- US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
- How Queen Elizabeth II's coronation created a television broadcasting battleground
- On Chernobyl anniversary, Zelenskyy slams Russia for using nuclear power plants to blackmail Ukraine and the world
- Archeologists find centuries-old mummy in Peru
- Taylor Swift makes surprise visit to Kansas City children’s hospital
- COMIC: How a computer scientist fights bias in algorithms
- U.S. seeks extradition of alleged Russian spy Sergey Cherkasov from Brazil
- Astronomers detect Scary Barbie supermassive black hole ripping apart huge star in terrifying spaghettification event
Recommendation
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
Penn Badgley Suggests You Season 5 Could Be Its Grand Finale
Tech's crackdown on Russian propaganda is a geopolitical high-wire act
The 'Orbeez Challenge' is causing harm in parts of Georgia and Florida, police warn
Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
Canadian socialite Jasmine Hartin pleads guilty to manslaughter in fatal shooting of Belize police officer
Facebook will block kids from downloading age-inappropriate virtual reality apps
Elon Musk saved $143 million by reporting Twitter stake late, shareholder suit claims