Mike Tyson issued scary warning over 'traumatic brain injury' by doctor ahead of Jake Paul fight
Watch now: Eamonn Holmes discusses Mike Tyson and Jake Paul fight
Mike Tyson has been warned that he's at serious risk of suffering a 'traumatic brain injury' when he steps into the ring with Jake Paul on Friday evening.
Paul and Tyson will make history when they take to the ring this week, breaking the record for the biggest age-gap between boxers in a professional fight.
Tyson is 31 years older than Paul and his last professionally sanctioned fight was back in 2005 when he lost to Kevin McBride.
Paul was just eight years old when Tyson last retired from boxing and age is expected to play a part when they go toe-to-toe on at the AT&T Stadium.
Mike Tyson turned 58 years old in the summer
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There have been serious concerns about Tyson stepping back into the ring with a much younger opponent.
Dr. Nitin K Sethi, who works as a clinical associate professor of neurology at Weill Cornell Medical College, has become the latest to point out why the fight is so dangerous for Tyson.
“When you talk about fighters who are now above the age of 40, you worry about two things,” Dr Sethi told CNN.
“One, I worry about the fighting in the ring itself, because is that fighter more predisposed to getting a severe traumatic brain injury under my watch while in the ring because of his or her age?
“The second thing I worry about is, this is a fighter who was had many, many years of professional boxing under his or her belt. You worry about the chronic neurological injuries.”
Tyson has been boxing since he was a teenager and ended his professional career with 56 official bouts.
Dr Sethi feels that will ultimately have an impact on Tyson's wellbeing given the significant blows to the head he's had over the years.
“When you have somebody whose profession is receiving numerous head impact exposures – both during training, sparring, and when in the ring – these head injuries and head impact exposures add up,” Dr Sethi said.
Mike Tyson has batted away concerns over his health
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“That’s why when you talk about chronic neurological injuries in boxing, I personally feel that that’s the bigger problem.”
Dr Sethi added: “The reason 40 is used as a cutoff is because there’s concern raised that when you have older fighters entering the ring or cage, they are more susceptible to either getting hurt or, for example, an older brain handles a concussion less (well) than, for example, a younger brain.
“You can look at it both ways. One is what is the propensity that they will get hurt. And then it’s even if they suffer the injury, is it the fact that age itself is detrimental in the healing process?”
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Mike Tyson hasn't fought professionally since 2005
GETTYTyson is set to undergo two final tests with The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) before the fight can take place on Friday.
The legendary boxer will have to pass a brain test (EEG) and a heart test (EKG), which was agreed months ago.
According to the TDLR, the tests are put in place for any boxer over the age of 36.
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