Mike Tyson explains pulling out of Jake Paul fight and makes stance clear on boxing legacy

Eyebrows were raised back in March when it was announced Tyson would be returning to the ring, four years on from his last clash against Roy Jones Jr.

He is facing a man 31 years his junior in Paul, who has become a marmite figure during his time in the sport.

Earlier in the year, Tyson was forced to pull out of the showdown due to an ulcer flare up.

Now, speaking to the Daily Mail, he's revealed he had been eating too much 'bad foods'.

"I was doing too much bad food and stuff, and I got sick,'' he said.

Tyson did, however, add that he was now avoiding 'processed foods' and is 'eating clean' ahead of the clash in Texas next month.

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One habit he's been unable to cut out, however, is vaping.

Many have condemned Tyson for choosing to fight Paul, with many figures associated with the sport concerned that his legacy could be damaged if he suffers a catastrophic defeat.

That isn't something that concerns the boxing icon, however, who has made it clear that he isn't worried about his reputation being damaged.

"I didn't take this fight for legacy," he continued.

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"I think legacy really, to my perspective, legacy is ego.

"Who gives a f**k how people think about them when they are gone? I'm dead. I can't value off what somebody might think about me when I'm dead, so it means nothing to me."

Meanwhile, former UFC star Dan Hardy has opened up ahead of the clash between Tyson and Paul.

Unlike other sporting stars, the 42-year-old isn't critical of the pair for agreeing to do battle.

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Hardy does feel that Tyson is starting to slow down, however, as he approaches 60.

"I'm still not mad about it to be honest," he told BloodyElbow.com.

"I’m a big Mike Tyson fan as many combat sports people are.

"You know, time always catches up with us and Mike Tyson isn’t the fighter he was even a couple of years ago.

“Even when he fought Roy Jones Jr [in 2020]. I thought he looked good, but in the last couple of years, I feel like his age has really started to show through.

“Like, he’s still a dangerous man in his own mind and you would want to upset the guy, that’s for sure.

“In a boxing contest where you’re in with someone who is in their 20s, over 200lbs and spending all day every day working on his boxing.

"What none of us want to see is Mike Tyson go crashing to the canvas and Jake Paul celebrating.”