Mike Tyson Must Quit Marijuana for Fight Against Jake Paul

Boxing legend Mike Tyson will have to give up marijuana use in order to participate in his upcoming fight against well-known blogger and athlete Jake Paul, scheduled for July 2024.

Fighters Will Be Tested for Cannabis

The bout between Tyson and Paul is set to take place in the state of Texas, where recreational marijuana is prohibited. As a result, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) requires all participants in sporting events to undergo testing for marijuana and other drugs before or after competitions.

Journalist Ariel Helwani reported that both Mike and Jake want the fight to be a professional heavyweight match, but they have not yet agreed on the number of rounds. The fight will not be for a championship title, so the duration will range from four to ten rounds.

TDLR public relations manager Tela Mange stated that regardless of the fight’s status, the boxers will have to be tested for cannabis if they meet in the ring in Texas. Iron Mike is known for his love of marijuana and claims that he and his friends smoke up to $40,000 worth of marijuana per month. This makes it clear that giving up cannabis will be a challenge for him.

Bookmakers Doubt Tyson’s Chances

Western betting companies have already started accepting wagers on the outcome of the Tyson vs. Paul fight. Iron Mike is considered a clear underdog, with odds of 4.25 for his victory. In contrast, Jake Paul’s win is being offered at much lower odds of 1.20.

Paul has fought in 10 boxing matches, losing only once. Tyson, on the other hand, has 58 professional fights under his belt, with 50 wins. However, bookmakers and boxing fans give Iron Mike little chance of triumph, mainly because he is 30 years older than his opponent.

Expert Opinion and Criticism

Gennady Mashyanov, who trains light heavyweight world champion Dmitry Bivol, is confident in Paul’s victory and calls the fight “staged.” He criticized 27-year-old Paul for challenging 57-year-old Tyson, whom Mashyanov described as “a sick man who can’t get off marijuana.” Instead of fighting an out-of-shape Mike, Gennady advised Jake to box against heavyweight giant Francis Ngannou, who was recently knocked out by Anthony Joshua.