Jake Paul has sparked controversy after claiming former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson had Parkinson's disease before their November bout, prompting a swift denial from Tyson's camp.
The remarks were made during Paul's recent appearance on a livestream with internet personality Adin Ross, where the pair discussed the use of psychedelic drugs for healing purposes.
The comments quickly gained traction online, forcing Tyson's representatives to address the unfounded claims about his health.
During the livestream discussion about psychedelic substances, Paul made the startling claim about Tyson's supposed condition.
Mike Tyson's camp reacted after Jake Paul misspoke and said he had Parkinson's
Reuters/YouTube
"Toad cured Tyson's Parkinson's so that he could come back and fight," Paul said whilst speaking with Ross about the healing properties of psychedelic drugs.
The conversation had turned to the effects of various substances, including toad venom, when Paul made the unexpected statement about the boxing legend's health.
Following widespread reaction to his comments, Paul quickly took to social media platform X to retract his statement.
"Bruh… Mike Tyson didn't have no Parkinson's... WTF. Why the f*** is the internet so stupid for. I misspoke," Paul wrote.
He clarified his earlier comments about the toad venom, adding: "Meant he used toad to heal his pain.
"He has spoken about it many times. Just like I do. Just like many do."
Tyson's team issued an unequivocal response to the claims through a statement to TMZ.
"Mike is happy and perfectly healthy. He doesn't have Parkinson's or any other illness," his representatives confirmed.
The denial comes amidst growing speculation about the former champion's health, which had been fuelled by Paul's comments during the livestream.
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Jake Paul defeated Mike Tyson in November last year in a farcical event
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The fight, which marked Tyson's first professional bout since 2005, saw the 58-year-old lose to Paul by unanimous decision.
The original May date had been postponed due to Tyson suffering from an ulcer flare-up during a flight, though he was later cleared to compete by the Texas Boxing Commission.
The bout, which was broadcast on Netflix, reportedly reached 60 million households worldwide but failed to meet expectations, with some critics questioning the fight's intensity.
