Jake Paul is walking back a statement he made about boxing legend Mike Tyson after accidentally suggesting that the former heavyweight champion had Parkinson’s disease. The internet went into a frenzy after Paul, 27, claimed in a recent interview that psychedelic toad venom “cured Tyson’s Parkinson’s” and that it played a role in his return to the ring.
However, Paul quickly shut down the speculation, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify his statement. “Bruh…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,” he wrote.
Bruh…Mike Tyson didn’t have no Parkinsons..WTF. Why the fuck 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. https://t.co/RQkvsDFnpw
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) February 16, 2025
The clarification comes after Paul’s blockbuster fight against Tyson in November, which saw the social media star defeat the boxing icon via unanimous decision at AT&T Stadium. The match was one of the biggest events of Paul’s career, but his latest comments on Tyson’s health have reignited controversy.
While there is no official confirmation that Tyson, 58, has Parkinson’s disease, concerns about his health have surfaced in recent months. The former champion experienced a medical scare in May due to an ulcer flare-up, which resulted in a four-month delay of his bout with Paul.
Outside of his comments on Tyson, Paul also stirred up another debate—this time about the state of mixed martial arts. Speaking on the All The Smoke Fight podcast, he claimed, “MMA is not what it was. That's the truth of the matter. Boxing is bigger than ever. The biggest sporting event of the year of 2024 was boxing, whereas MMA is becoming a s**ttier version of boxing.”
Paul argued that modern MMA is “essentially kickboxing” due to the increasing ability of fighters to defend takedowns and their expertise in jiu-jitsu. “There’s no more submissions, really. There’s not a lot of takedowns and even if there is, it's f**king boring,” he added.
Despite his controversial takes, Paul continues to be a major figure in combat sports, both for his in-ring performances and his unfiltered opinions. With Tyson’s health clarified and his stance on MMA making waves, Paul remains at the center of the conversation—whether fans like it or not.
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