Featured Image Credit: Joe Rogan Experience
Topics: Mike Tyson, Jake Paul, Boxing
Ryan Smart
Mike Tyson has addressed a rumour that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease after a claim was made on Jake Paul's podcast.
Tyson lost to Paul via unanimous decision in a professional boxing bout in November, which marked the 58-year-old's first professional fight since 2005.
There were concerns over Tyson's condition as the fight wore on and the eventual result became academic several rounds into the eight-round contest.
'Iron Mike' had suffered from health issues in the build-up to the bout, including an ulcer flare-up on a flight which caused the original May date to be postponed.
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But Tyson was cleared to compete by the Texas Boxing Commission, and completed the full eight-round fight after a rigorous training programme.
Paul has recently claimed in a new podcast that Tyson ate toad - whose venom contains a psychodelic chemical - to relieve symptoms of Parkinson's disease. There is no evidence that such treatment has any effect on the disease.
Parkinson's disease is where parts of the brain become progressively damaged over time, causing a range of symptoms including tremors, slow movement and stiff and inflexible muscles (via the NHS website). Fellow boxing legend Muhammad Ali was diagnosed with the disease in 1984 and lived with it for 32 years.
Speaking to Internet streamer Adin Ross, Paul claimed: "Toad is what cured Tyson's Parkinson's so he could come back and fight."
Paul was not challenged on the claim or asked to elaborate by the podcast host.
In response to the comment, a spokesperson for Tyson told TMZ: "Mike is happy and perfectly healthy. He doesn't have Parkinson's or any other illness."
Paul later took to Twitter to state that he 'misspoke' when delivering his comments, writing: "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."