Mike Tyson, the legendary boxer, returns to the ring at the age of 58, facing Jake Paul on the night of November 15 (US time). His journey from the peak to the bottom and his “rebirth” brings stories that many people are interested in.
The ups and downs of “Iron Fist” Mike Tyson’s past
Mike Tyson, a one-time heavyweight boxing icon, once stunned the world with many unthinkable decisions, including sucking venom from the poisonous Sonoran Desert toad. At the age of 58, Tyson returned to the ring, facing Jake Paul, who is 30 years his junior, in a match on the morning of November 16 (Vietnam time) in Texas. This match attracted much criticism due to the 31-year age gap between the two boxers.
Tyson, the youngest heavyweight champion in history at just 20 years old, faced many psychological problems and addictions throughout his glorious and eventful career.
Before “retiring” from the boxing ring, Tyson went bankrupt, “throwing away” all his assets of up to 300 million USD (about 7,500 billion VND). After that, he returned to the underworld, earning his assets through cinema and the marijuana business, a field that brought “Iron Fist” millions of USD in revenue each year. According to Tyson, the experience with toad venom was a way to face the past and overcome pain.
Journey of “rebirth” from toad venom ritual
In 2019, Tyson first tried the ritual of smoking toad venom, a powerful hallucinogen that acts as a “rebirth” shot. The compound from the Sonoran Desert toad contains 5-MeO-DMT, which when smoked can cause a loss of self and help users reduce stress and depression.
Tyson’s venom extraction ceremony lasted 20 minutes and left him feeling “dead and alive again”. Gerardo Sandoval, an expert in this field, shared: “At first Mike thought he was going to die, he was scared and asked to stop. At that time, I saw him as if he was “knocked out” by toad venom. But that helped him realize the true meaning of life”.
After more than 50 attempts, Tyson said the ritual helped him gain more control over his life, quit sedatives, and gradually regain his mental balance. Mike shared: “After smoking toad venom, I felt relieved, less angry, and had a more positive life.”
The Revival of “Iron Fist”
Tyson’s career is a story of strength against fate. Having served three years in prison for rape and mired in drug addiction, the 58-year-old boxer went through his darkest days. However, Tyson was reborn, rising from the “ashes” to become a leading name in the boxing world. He appeared in the famous comedy The Hangover.
Not only that, the fight with Jake Paul will bring Tyson an additional $40 million, although many believe that this confrontation is mainly for commercial purposes. Billy White, a childhood friend and Tyson’s trainer under Cus D’Amato, commented: “Cus always taught us that age is just a number. Mike walks into the ring like a 25-year-old guy.”
Tyson also received great support from his wife, Lakiha Spicer, the woman considered behind his current business success.
Having been confined to a wheelchair due to a stomach ailment in July, Mike now confidently enters the ring. The 58-year-old boxer seems to constantly push his limits.
For Mike Tyson , this is not just a match, but he sees it as a new chapter in his revival story. If he wins, Tyson calls it an “immortal” achievement.