SAN FRANCISCO, November 30, (THEWILL) –Â On Saturday, November 28, Mike Tyson showed fans a glimpse of what made him “Iron Mike” when he returned to the boxing ring for an exhibition bout. Tyson admitted he smoked marijuana before the eight-rounder that ended in a split decision with Roy Jones Jr.Tyson when asked about it.
“Absolutely, yes,” Tyson replied revealing that he even smoked another before meeting with the press corps at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
“Listen, I can’t stop smoking,” the 54-year-old, who was fighting his first bout in 14 years, explained. “I smoked during fights. I just have to smoke, I’m sorry. I’m a smoker. I smoke everyday. I never stopped smoking.”
Tyson, who was also an avid cocaine user, said he had knocked out that particular addiction almost three years ago. But, he stuck with marijuana.
However, because it was an exhibition bout rather than a professional fight, marijuana was not one of banned substances in the test administered by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA).
The veteran boxer revealed he had no plans to stop doing marijuana, even while fighting, as it had no effect on him.
“It’s just who I am. It has no effect on me from a negative standpoint. It’s just what I do and how I am and how I’m going to die. There’s no explanation. There’s no beginning, there’s no end.”
“It just numbs me. It doesn’t numb the pain,” Tyson made sure to clarify that it does nothing to the pain of being punched.
Tyson and Jones’ exhibition was the inaugural event that kickstarted the “Frontline Battle” series produced by Legends Only League. The fight was eligible for the new WBC Frontline Battle Belt.
Iron Mike appeared fit and trim in his traditional black trunks. He landed hard shots on Jones, who looked sleek and flashy and reminiscent of the younger Jones. The 51-year-old kept Tyson tied up most of the night. Three former WBC champions, who were the judges of the bout, scored the fight a draw.
For their efforts, each boxer was said to have received $10 million. Once estimated to be worth $685 million by Forbes, Tyson frittered most of that away in a life of extravagance. He said all that was in the past.
“I’m here for a purpose. I’m not here for my ego. My ego is taking the money, buying some planes, some nice houses packing up a bunch of chicks and have some orgies and stuff.
“This is not who that is right now. That guy was just somebody that had to be, eventually he was a platform to become me.”
Tyson claimed he was now someone who cared deeply for his family, his clothes, his pigeons and, of course, his weed.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
