Tyson v Paul

[GeneChing]

MAR. 8, 2024
With Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul Fight, Netflix Enters Its Stunt Era

By John Herrman, a contributing writer who covers technology at Intelligencer.


Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer; Photos: Getty Images
In 2022, after its subscriber numbers dipped for the first time in a decade, Netflix started making some changes. In the coming years, it would raise prices, crack down on password-sharing, spend money more carefully, cut shows more mercilessly, and introduce — after years of marketing itself as the pristine alternative to junked-up television — an ad-supported subscription tier.

This was more of a course correction than a forward-looking plan. Regarding the small matter of actually getting more people to watch and subscribe to Netflix, the company has been doing some experimenting. It’s leaned into sports coverage and programming, with documentaries and occasional live events, including its own tennis tournament. It signed a massive $5 billion deal to air Raw, WWE’s flagship live weekly wrestling show. Also, it announced this:

Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced their first-ever partnership in a heavyweight boxing mega-event headlined by The Problem Child, Jake “El Gallo” Paul (9-1, 6 KOs) vs. the Baddest Man on the Planet, Mike Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs). Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson will stream live globally, exclusively on Netflix on Saturday, July 20, 2024 from the 80,000-seat capacity AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.

Mike Tyson is the former heavyweight champion of the world, now 57. Jake Paul is a Viner who became a YouTuber who became a rapper who became a boxer (his brother, Logan, followed a similar path to the WWE). Jake Paul is best understood for our purposes as a sort of social-media-era omni-heel — a savvy marketer whom many millions of internet users would like to see punched powerfully in the head. Despite a run of high-profile fights, Jake Paul’s talents as a boxer are hard to assess — most of his opponents have come from outside of the current professional-boxing ranks. Mike Tyson has been retired (more or less) for nearly 20 years. Paul boxed in the undercard of Tyson’s last fight, an exhibition match in 2020. Tyson appeared briefly in a Netflix documentary about Jake Paul released last year.

In another year, this would be a classic pay-per-view event: a strange, compelling, gruesome spectacle that a certain kind of guy might pay to watch with his friends or at a bar. But it’s 2024, and it’s not clear how this sort of thing is supposed to work now. Showtime doesn’t do boxing anymore. Premier Boxing Champions, one of the sport’s biggest promotions (and a former showtime partner) has signed a deal with Amazon, which will start streaming live fights and PPV events this month. Netflix’s expansion into sports content is a play for advertising dollars, but, again, this is its own animal: a one-off stunt match between a YouTuber who once had to apologize for filming a video of a suicide victim in the Aokigahara Forest in Japan and a professional concussion collector who bit off Evander Holyfield’s ear the same year his opponent was born.

It’s an experiment for Netflix and an interesting possible future for a lucrative category of programming that has been orphaned by technology. Maybe this will be a boon to a subscription business at a time when streamers are reaching a natural plateau. Maybe it will get the attention of advertisers and hasten the streaming ecosystem’s gradual transformation into Cable: This Again. Also, hey, maybe someone will get badly hurt! And I imagine a lot of people will be watching to see if they do.

So much buzz on this. I went for this article to start discussions...

[mickey]

Greetings,

Five reasons why Tyson might lose this match:

1- He Vapes. He Vapes. He Vapes.

2- Poor leg strength.

3- Poor endurance to go the distance.

4- Visual: impaired ability to react to incoming punches.

5- Speed deficit: at the time of this post, Mike Tyson is not moving that fast.

I took a look at Jake Paul. He is not much. His shortcomings can be quickly minimized. Will time and Divine Providence be kind to Mike Tyson?

mickey

[GeneChing]

MAR 08, 2024
“Not A Fight I’m Happy To See”: Controversial Mike Tyson Vs. Jake Paul Boxing Fight Sparks Debate
Interview With Expert
Andréa Oldereide and Karina Babenok

Here comes the boom…er. The recent announcement of the upcoming boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, set to take place this summer in Texas, USA, has generated intense anticipation and debate amongst fans and experts alike, especially due to the fighters’ difference in age.
Mike Tyson, the former heavyweight boxing champion, will meet Jake Paul, a YouTuber-turned-prizefighter, in the boxing ring in what is expected to be the “most polarizing spectacle yet of the recent crossover boxing craze.”

Highlights
Mike Tyson is scheduled to fight Jake Paul in a boxing match on July 20 in Texas, airing on Netflix.
There has been controversy over whether the match would be a professional fight or an exhibition.
Experts have predicted Jake Paul might win by decision if it's an official bout, citing the fighters' age difference.

The fight won’t be Jake’s first time meeting Mike, as he initially rose to combat sports fame when he knocked out former NBA player Nate Robinson on the undercard of Mike’s exhibition boxing match with Roy Jones Jr. in 2020.
Mike will face Jake in the boxing match on July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in the main event of a card (a lineup of matches) that will air on Netflix, ESPN reported on Thursday (March 7).
It will reportedly be the streaming company’s debut into combat sports and its third live sporting event.
The 27-year-old internet sensation’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) secured an agreement with Netflix for a boxing card in November 2023, per MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian.
Nakisa said in a statement: “Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson is a once-in-a-lifetime dream matchup, and I anticipate it will be the most-watched boxing event in modern boxing history.”
The highly anticipated Tyson vs. Paul boxing match is poised to be a groundbreaking event in the world of combat sports

Image credits: Jake Paul
As of now, it is reportedly unclear how the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation will handle this controversial matchup, as it is currently undetermined whether the event will be considered a professional fight, therefore a sanctioned fight where the fighters receive financial compensation, or an exhibition, which is a more informal or staged event where the primary goal is entertainment rather than competition.
According to ESPN, Mike is one of the greatest, and most fearsome, heavyweight boxers to ever live. Nevertheless, he will be 58 at the time of the fight, whereas Jake is three decades his junior.
Mike was in good shape when he fought Roy Jones to a draw in an exhibition boxing match on November 28, 2020, and he has looked good in social media video training.
The boxing icon hasn’t participated in a professional fight since the year 2005. Additionally, in his last two professional fights, he was defeated by being stopped or knocked out by his opponents. He eventually hung up his gloves.
“[Paul has] grown significantly as a boxer over the years, so it will be a lot of fun to see what the will and ambition of a ‘kid’ can do with the experience and aptitude of a GOAT,” Mike said in a statement.
Jake, with an impressive record, defeated former UFC stars like Nate Diaz and Anderson Silva, and he has been aiming to gain experience by facing more seasoned boxers in pursuit of a world championship.
The age gap between the two fighters Mike Tyson and Jake Paul has been a topic of controversy, debated amongst experts in the field

Image credits: Netflix
“It’s crazy to think that in my second pro fight, I went viral for knocking out Nate Robinson on Mike Tyson’s undercard,” Jake said in a statement.
He added: “Now, less than four years later, I’m stepping up to face Tyson myself to see if I have what it takes to beat one of boxing’s most notorious fighters and biggest icons.”
The highly anticipated fight, which represents a collision of boxing’s traditional legacy with the modern era of social media and entertainment, has sparked various opinions, with many sports experts offering their insights.
“I can’t exactly say I saw this coming,” Fansided MMA contributor Tom Albano told Bored Panda in an email. “I remember Paul saying he was (somehow) looking [at] the path towards being a world champion and would take a money fight only if it came. I was expecting him to have another ‘tomato can’ style bout next, but I guess the money fight came!”
In boxing, a “tomato can” refers to a fighter who is considered to be of low skill level or little threat to their opponent.
“I don’t doubt that this could sell,” Tom added. “You’ve got Netflix, the biggest streaming platform in the world. You’ve got Jake Paul and the brand and name value that he has in social media influencing and in combat sports. And you’ve got Mike Tyson, one of the greatest heavyweights to ever compete in the sport.”

continued next post

[GeneChing]

A sportswriter predicted the fight ending in a decision win for Jake “if this is an official bout”

Image credits: Jake Paul
According to Tom, the fight will attract viewers “one way or another.”
As far as who would win, Tom said, “One thing that needs to be taken into account is that it’s not final if this is an exhibition or a pro fight.”
He continued: “I’d be surprised if Texas allows this to be a legit professional boxing contest, but we’ve seen crazy things happen in combat sports!”
Tom predicted the fight ending in a decision win for Jake “if this is an official bout,” pointing to Mike and Jake’s age difference and “activeness.”
“Anyone who wants to say Mike is training, while that’s true, training and actual competition are two different settings,” the sportswriter said.
“That said, I wouldn’t mind seeing another KO win for the first boxer I ever became familiar with,” he admitted.
Tom concluded: “Honestly though, it’s all a spectacle. It’s a business venture. It’s a money fight.
He further stated: “I’m curious to see the viewership and social numbers for this fight. And I want to see how Netflix handles the production of this.”
Stephen Jones, who boxed in the 1980s and 1990s as an amateur and spent a vast amount of time between the 1990s and 2000s in Las Vegas working with a number of fighters, including heavyweight Friday Ahunanya and former WBC heavyweight champion Samuel Peter, claimed to have witnessed Mike’s comeback after being released from prison.
“I saw how declined he looked when he first walked into the gym after Indiana and how quickly he gathered momentum and elevated himself to a point where he actually resembled a solid imitation of his best self,” Stephen told Bored Panda in an email.
“Mike will be 58 by the scheduled fight time and, in reality, shouldn’t be allowed to perform in paid fighting,” another boxing enthusiast said

Image credits: Joe Scarnici/Getty Images
Mike Tyson was convicted of rape in 1992 and served three years in prison from 1992 to 1995.
Stephen, who runs Mirageboxing.blogspot.com and coaches amateur and professional fighters in the UK, further recalled: “Mike was hurting men in the gym daily, a naturally aggressive predator with very little mercy on his way to regaining the title.
“Mike, even at his most broken, could thrash his way through a version of the heavyweight division and remain a lightning bolt in the division’s history.”
However, according to Stephen, Mike has now become “a sideshow against a man who wouldn’t have had the guts to carry Mike’s gym bag in the 1990s.”
The boxing coach explained: “Mike will be 58 by the scheduled fight time and, in reality, shouldn’t be allowed to perform in paid fighting despite his obvious natural instincts.
“Jake is hiding behind a goofy persona with a vast following and great business acumen.
“Don’t be fooled, despite no boxing background and a late arrival to the sport, he is always in great condition. He fights often and has [a] very shrewd boxing advisory around him.”
Also pointing to Jake’s younger age, Stephen added: “I’d love to have the naivety to fantasize about Mike demolishing Paul, [but] the reality is very different.
“A heavily muscled and powerful 58-year-old who hasn’t boxed a live opponent in combat in nearly 20 years and, despite his underwhelming level of opposition, Jake has boxed frequently and is an extremely diligently conditioned athlete who takes the sport seriously.”
Stephen went on to note the rarity for a fighter to return after a 20-year hiatus.
“I’d hope Mike would emerge morally victorious by carefully evading Jake’s best efforts, but I don’t think it’s a fight that can offer Mike an opportunity to roll back the years,” he said.
“It’s not a fight that I’m happy to see,” the boxing enthusiast said before concluding: “Mike always has a puncher[’s] chance of hurting and stopping Paul, but in my experience, a lively and motivated young and enthusiastic upstart will be hard to discourage.”
“This can’t be real,” a reader commented


Andréa Oldereide
Writer, BoredPanda staff
Hey, my name is Andréa and some people call me "Dré". I hate the nickname Andy. I'm a journalist and I write for the News Team at Bored Panda, which is a recently introduced team. I cover anything that's breaking news or in general news within the world of pop culture and other areas such as science, nature, and more. You'll see me often chase after a source to get an original quote in my articles.

If I'm free I'll tune in...

[Jimbo]

Even though I'd like to see Mike Tyson win by KO, I highly doubt that's going to happen. I also see it as going to Jake Paul by decision. And no, this is NOT a "dream match." Mike Tyson is decades past his prime, and nothing involving Jake Paul is anyone's dream match, except for maybe social media addicts.

The fight could very well be fixed. In which case, Jake Paul won't lose, no matter what (in my opinion).

OTOH, Mike Tyson is still a lot faster at 57 than most young men today. And he can still hurt you badly if he hits you right. Power is the last thing to go in a fighter that was a power puncher. I'd bet on Tyson in a street fight over Jake Paul any day.

[GeneChing]

[mickey]

Greetings,

So far, nothing showing Mike Tyson doing any kind of endurance training: calisthenics, roadwork, sufficient ring work. We are only given snippets to look at and what I see does not impress me. Do remember that Mike Tyson had a procedure done on his neck. Would head shots be a problem? I see no leg training at all. That famous low crouch is absent. Mike's hand speed is not impressive. If I can follow it, it is slow. Where is the abdominal work? Where is the medicine ball work? Where are the training partners who can REALLY tune him up?

mickey

[mickey]

To Add.

Right at this moment, Mike Tyson could not survive something like the following and it is sad to think this because there was a time when this level of intensity was a delicious snack for him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0igiQA5jvI

Mike Tyson's mindset has changed. That Widowmaker's mindset, that Eye of the Tiger, has been replaced by someone who has seen life at its worst and lived to talk about it. That Warrior has become a Sage. Why regress oneself?

mickey

[mickey]

More,

Given the aforementioned, I would still like to see Mike Tyson defeat the odds.

mickey

[GeneChing]

Jake Paul reiterates respect for Mike Tyson but says he has 'to end him' during July fight
Safid Deen
USA TODAY

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — YouTuber-turned prizefighter Jake Paul’s promotion of his summer fight with boxing legend Mike Tyson continued at the Formula One Miami Grand Prix on Sunday with some choice words.

"I love Mike. I’m super respectful of him. It’s an honor to be in the ring with him. But I have to end him," Paul said in front of the Ferrari garage at the Miami Dolphins' Hard Rock Stadium.

Paul, 27, will fight Tyson, 57, on July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The match will be available on Netflix.

Paul said he appreciates how outspoken Tyson has been for him during his rising career, but they have a score to settle when they face each other in the ring.

"It’s war. All is fair in love and war. I love the guy, but as soon as it turned into a pro fight, one of us has to die," Paul told USA TODAY Sports.

Tyson has been one of the most outspoken figures in favor of Paul’s rise from YouTube star to viral boxing phenomenon.

During Paul’s Netflix documentary "Untold: Jake Paul the Problem Child," Tyson said Paul "did more for boxing than some of the champions did."

"We got to keep this guy bright because he’s going to save boxing – as long as he continues to fight," Tyson said of Paul. "He got the light, you know what I mean? He’s touched. He got the light."

When asked about those comments, Paul responded: “I think all that still stands. He’s a legend. I love the guy. But at the end of the day, it’s war and you just have to go to war and put it all on the line.

"I still have the utmost respect for him, and I think he’ll say the same about me and what I’ve done for the sport."

As odd as this is, I have Netflix and will likely watch.

[GeneChing]

[GeneChing]

Ulcer flare-up on plane won't stop Mike Tyson: 'I don't need to be' 100% 'to beat Jake Paul'
LA Times
CHUCK SCHILKEN
May 28, 2024 at 1:57 PM


Mike Tyson, left, and Jake Paul face off during a news conference May 16 in Arlington, Texas. Tyson had a medical scare Sunday that his publicist attributed to "an ulcer flare-up." (Sam Hodde / Associated Press)

It looks like an ulcer flare-up on a plane won't stop a 58-year-old Mike Tyson from fighting 27-year-old Jake Paul in July.

The legendary boxer suffered a medical emergency Sunday on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles, becoming "nauseous and dizzy due to an ulcer flare-up 30 minutes before landing,” a representative for the former undisputed heavyweight champion said in a statement to The Times on Monday.

Nonetheless, Tyson's heavyweight bout against Paul will apparently proceed as scheduled on July 20. On Tuesday, Tyson posted on X, providing a medical update as well as a little trash talk toward the YouTube-influencer-turned-boxer.

"Now feeling 100%," Tyson wrote on X, "even though I don't need to be to beat Jake Paul.

Paul appeared to address rumors that the fight might be off with a tweet on Monday.

"You love to make s— up before knowing the facts for clicks / likes," Paul wrote. "Nothing changed #PaulTyson."

The Tyson-Paul fight is scheduled to take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The event is being promoted by Most Valuable Promotions and will stream live on Netflix, and both companies are still advertising it on their websites.

The bout has been classified as a sanctioned, professional fight by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations, taking place over eight two-minute rounds with each fighter wearing 14-ounce gloves. That has not changed since the events over the weekend, the department's communications manager Tela Goodwin Mange told The Times in an email Tuesday.

"TDLR is aware of media reports regarding an episode involving Mr. Tyson," Goodwin Mange wrote. "At present, Mr. Tyson and Mr. Paul have met the medical requirements for this event. Before the event in July, TDLR will conduct pre-fight physicals to ensure the health of both fighters."

First responders met American Airlines flight 1815 after it landed at LAX “due to the medical needs of a customer,” an airline statement said.

"Thankfully Mr. Tyson is doing great," his publicist said Monday in a statement.

Tyson is considered an all-time boxing great, but he is several decades past his prime. He retired as a professional boxer with a 50-6 record and 44 knockouts in 2005 — Paul was 8 at the time — and last fought in a 2020 exhibition match against former champion Roy Jones Jr., which was declared a draw.

Paul (9-1, 6 KO) has been criticized for facing opponents who are either not boxers by trade, including several aging mixed martial arts stars, or unknown boxers.

Former World Boxing Council light-middleweight champion and current DAZN commentator Sergio Mora told The Times on Tuesday that he thinks the fight "is not gonna end well for Mike Tyson and his legacy."

"He’s almost a senior citizen, smokes weed — you know, he lives his best life," Mora said of Tyson, who will turn 58 on June 30. "Jake Paul’s taking boxing seriously. He has the money to actually have great minds and great camps and the best nutrition. He’s a strong, naturally gifted athlete. He can pick up stuff pretty quickly, better and faster than a lot of people."

Mora added of Tyson's recent medical emergency: "I think this might be a blessing in disguise where some red flags will start being popped up. ... If something happens to Mike, it’s not gonna be a good thing for everybody that supported him” in the bout against Paul.

Seems like an additional handicap...

[GeneChing]

Jake Paul-Mike Tyson boxing match rescheduled for Nov. 15
Andreas Hale, ESPN
Jun 7, 2024, 09:55 AM ET

The boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson has a new date.

After the scheduled July 20 fight between the YouTuber-turned-prizefighter and the former heavyweight champion was postponed because of Tyson's medical issues, the fight has been rescheduled for Nov. 15 at AT&T Stadium.

The highly anticipated rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano for Taylor's undisputed super lightweight championship will also move to Nov. 15 and serve as the co-main event.

"Our team has worked diligently with all parties involved to reschedule this monumental fight to a date that ensures both Jake Paul and Mike Tyson are fully prepared, with equal training time, as well as allowing us to keep the event at AT&T stadium in the midst of the Cowboys season," Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions, said in a statement. "We appreciate the outstanding dedication, collaboration, and flexibility of our partners at Netflix and AT&T Stadium. Paul vs. Tyson is the most cross-generational sporting event in history, and we are committed to providing fans worldwide with this unforgettable night of boxing, live globally on Netflix. We look forward to seeing everyone on Friday, November 15 for a showdown that will be talked about for generations to come."

Paul-Tyson's new date will raise eyebrows with it falling on a Friday instead of a Saturday, which is commonplace for major boxing events. But with the Dallas Cowboys hosting the Houston Texans on Nov. 18 for "Monday Night Football," a Friday fight would give the stadium time to set up for the Cowboys game.

The original July date was clear of the NFL season and faced little competition with the NBA Finals having concluded and college football still a month out. But Tyson had an ulcer flare-up on a May 26 flight from Miami to Los Angeles that required medical attention. Tyson was forced to postpone the fight after a health checkup when doctors required him to limit his training over the next few weeks until his condition improved.

"Although we had to postpone the fight, I will resume training shortly. I am thankful to the medical staff that treated me and to MVP, Netflix, and AT&T Stadium for working diligently to find the best reschedule date for all parties," Tyson said in a statement. "While we have a new date, the result will be the same no matter when we fight. Jake Paul is getting knocked out."

Tyson will celebrate his 58th birthday June 30. The age gap between Tyson and Paul when they step into the ring will be 31 years, the biggest in the history of professional boxing. It will also be over 19 years since the last time Tyson fought as a professional. Paul, 27, will fight for the first time since stopping journeyman Ryan Bourland in the first round in March.

The women in the highly anticipated co-feature will experience a long layoff. Serrano, 35, has not fought since successfully defending her WBA, WBO, IBF and The Ring women's featherweight titles against Danila Ramos in October. Serrano was slated to fight Nina Meinke on Dec. 21 in Puerto Rico, but the fight was canceled because an eye injury rendered her "medically unfit" to compete.

Taylor, 37, last fought in November, when she bounced back from the first loss of her pro career by defeating Chantelle Cameron by majority decision to become the undisputed super lightweight champion.

There are no updates regarding whether MMA fighter Darren Till's professional boxing debut against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. or the bout between rising lightweight prospects Ashton "H2O" Sylve and Floyd "Kid Austin" Schofield will remain on the card.

Paul-Tyson will be streamed live on Netflix and sanctioned as a professional bout with the results affecting their pro records. The fight will be contested at heavyweight and is scheduled for eight two-minute rounds.

Previously purchased tickets will be honored for Nov. 15. Those unable to attend the rescheduled date are eligible for a refund at their original point of purchase until July 8.

Wonder how much tickets are...

[GeneChing]

Mike Tyson says he uses psychedelics in training. Now meet some of the others.
Josh Peter
USA TODAY

When you’ve lived with tigers, tattooed your face and bitten off a piece of another man’s ear in the boxing ring, it’s hard to shock anyone.

But Mike Tyson generated buzz during a recent appearance on Logan Paul's podcast when he said he consumes mushrooms of the psychedelic variety while he's training for his fight against Jake Paul on Nov. 15.

"It takes me to heaven, baby,'' Tyson said.

The former heavyweight champion is not alone when it comes to the use of "magic'' mushrooms during high-performance training.

According to athletes and those familiar with the practice, a number of professional hockey players, professional golfers and MMA fighters are using psilocybin, which is the naturally occurring psychedelic drug also known as “magic mushrooms," during training and in some cases during competition.

Heightened awareness and faster recovery are among reported benefits from “microdosing’’– taking a fraction of the regular dose of the drug and experiencing no psychoactive effect. (That does not appear to be the case with Tyson.)

“It makes you feel much more present,’’ said Ara Suppiah, a physician who has worked with Ryder Cup teams and estimated 4% to 5% of pro golfers are microdosing mushrooms. He declined to name the golfers but said they were not any he works with.

Pro golfer D.J. Trahan, who won PGA Tour events in 2006 and 2008, said the use of psychedelics starting in 2019 profoundly improved his well-being. He said his golf career has struggled despite microdosing off and on since 2021. But Trahan told USA TODAY Sports, "I know quite a few guys that are microdosing, and they have had tremendous success doing it, really. And I'm not at liberty to say anybody's names, nor would I, because it's not my place."

Riley Cote, a retired NHL player, said he knows at least a dozen active NHL players microdosing mushrooms. He declined to name the players. Known as an enforcer, Cote has said he suffered concussions during on-ice fights and started using psilocybin after his NHL career ended in 2010 for physical and mental health issues.

“This is not even about just the hockey performance or sports performance, it's just life performance,’’ said Cote, who played in 156 games for the Philadelphia Flyers between 2006 and 2010. “And I think it just extends to all of these different crafts because naturally high-end performers are always going to try and find an edge.’’


Mike Tyson arrives on the red carpet before the 2023 ESPYS.
Rashad Evans, a former UFC light heavyweight champion who fought last in 2022, said he knows at least 30 UFC fighters who microdose regularly. He said he used mushrooms while training for his fight in 2022 and the drugs reduced soreness after sparring.

“The next day I feel totally rebooted and ready to do it again,’’ said Evans, who at 42 beat 35-year-old Gabriel Checco by unanimous decision.

When did athletes start using mushrooms?

It was eight years ago when Suppiah first heard of microdosing mushrooms in the world of golf, the physician said.

That was the same time PGA Tour player Morgan Hoffman disappeared into the Costa Rican jungle after being diagnosed with muscular dystrophy and emerged a vocal advocate of psychedelics. He rejoined the Tour in 2022.

Also, Suppiah said, podcasts such as "The Joe Rogan Experience" helped spread the word.

“They had guests on who started talking about microdosing,’’ Suppiah said. “Joe Rogan talked about microdosing. And those things are, podcasts, generally are very popular among golfers.’’

With a connection to Riley, Bramlage said he began working with hockey players six years ago.

Ian McCall, a retired MMA fighter, said he began working with other fighters five years ago. “But I didn’t see it take off until two years ago,’’ he said. One of his clients is Mark Irwin, a 36-year-old bareknuckle brawler from Southern California who said he took 7.5 grams of mushrooms the night he won the BYB Extreme lightweight title in 2023 – and was on mushrooms again when he lost the title later in the year.

Ultrarunner Michael Versteeg has talked about using mushrooms in training and in competition.

But it was Tyson whose open use of the drug raised its profile in the world of athletics. He credited psychedelics for turning around his life and said he used mushrooms while training for his exhibition fight with Roy Jones Jr. in 2020.

Adam Bramlage, who specializes in microdosing and said he works with a dozen NHL players and two snowboarders, said the average dosage for microdosing is 100 to 150 milligrams. He said it's ingested an hour or two before training or performance and lasts four to six hours.

A two-month supply costs $100 to $200, according to Bramlage.

"Whether it's Mike Tyson or it's my NHL athletes, they get into a flow state where they're no longer thinking about what they have to do later or what they did yesterday or the stressors of their life,'' he said. "They're just in the present moment.''

continued next post

[GeneChing]

What are the risks?

Psychedelic mushrooms are not approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and, classified as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, they're illegal under federal law.

In Oregon and Colorado, however, residents voted to make the supervised use of psilocybin legal. There's a push to legalize the drug elsewhere, with one of several studies showing benefits such as treating addiction, depression and end-of-life mood disorders.

There’s no risk of a positive drug test for those athletes because it is not on the World Anti-Doping Agency list of prohibited substances. But Suppiah said he thinks that could change..

“The only question I have is are they going to look at it and say, is this an unfair advantage?’’ he said. “Is this performance enhancing and is it Adderall where you need a (Therapeutic Use Exemption) to say, 'I have an attention deficit disorder, therefore I'm allowed to take this medication?' ’’

WADA’s Prohibited List, according to communications manager Andrew Maggio, may include any substance or method that satisfies two of the following three criteria:

It has the potential to enhance or enhances sport performance.
It represents an actual or potential health risk to the athlete.
It violates the spirit of sport (this term is defined in the World Anti-Doping Code).

Based on current knowledge, Maggio said, psychedelics, including psilocybin, do not fulfill two of the three criteria to be considered for inclusion on the list.

The use of mushrooms does have potential health risks, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which lists the following health risks: increased heart rate and blood pressure; nausea and vomiting; extreme fear, panic and paranoia; and flashbacks.

How mushrooms have impacted Tyson

There is no evidence mushrooms are a performance-enhancing drug, said Matt Johnson, a senior researcher for the Center of Excellence for Psilocybin Research and Treatment at Sheppard Pratt’s Institute for Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics in Maryland. Previously at John Hopkins, Johnson's clinical trials have explored the effects of psychedelics on mystical experience, personality change, cancer distress treatment and depression treatment, according to his bio at Sheppard Pratt's Institute.

But Johnson said he is open to the possibility based on Tyson reporting benefits. “I don't dismiss it out of hand,’’ Johnson said. “If Mike Tyson says something enhances his performance, I'd weigh that. Again, not as proof, but I'd weigh that with serious consideration.

“I think the guy knows something about what affects his performance most likely. It doesn't mean that he's not susceptible to a placebo effect, but again, pretty open and it's plausible. So yeah, I am curious about the whole situation for sure.’’


Mike Tyson and Jake Paul pose onstage during the press conference for their upcoming fight.
A publicist for Tyson, 58, did not respond to a request for comment submitted by USA TODAY Sports by email and text message.

Tyson’s recent appearance on the Logan Paul show was not the first time he’s discussed using mushrooms. Three years earlier, also on Paul’s podcast, he shoved a fistful of dry mushrooms in his mouth. Johnson, the researcher, noted that most people would not be able to train on high doses of mushrooms.

Tyson has credited the drug with helping him lose 100 pounds, give up cocaine and alcohol and improve his relationships with his wife and children. And for his return to boxing.

Last month, Tyson launched an at-home mushroom grow kit as part of a business collaboration featuring TYSON 2.0, the boxer's cannabis brand.

But, in an interview that took place after Tyson experienced what his representatives described as an ulcer flareup that forced the fight to be postponed, he indicated he would have to speak to his doctor before using mushrooms. Based on his comments on Paul’s podcast, he appeared to have gotten approval.

"And he's not saying, 'I'm punching harder,' " said James Fadiman, a researcher of psychedelics and author of The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide: Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred Journeys. "But he is saying, 'I can get in touch with that particular part of myself more easily.' "

Actually, when Logan Paul asked Tyson why he uses mushrooms during his workouts, this is exactly what he said:

“Because I feel beautiful.''

Follow Josh Peter on social media @joshlpeter11

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