5 hours Ago By [email protected] (Shane Ireland, John Jones)
Mike Tyson is set to make a comeback in the boxing ring as he faces off against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in an eagerly awaited fight in Texas this Friday night. The iconic heavyweight will step back into the ring for his first official bout in nearly two decades, with the fight finally proceeding after being delayed due to a health scare. Originally slated for July, it was postponed when Tyson fell ill on a flight due to an ulcer flare-up.
The 58 year old is, without doubt, one of the greatest boxers in the history of the sport, boasting 50 wins out of his 58 professional fights, with 44 of those by knockout. Known for his fierce boxing style, he ruled the division for years and made a fortune doing so. Some estimates put Tyson's career earnings at over half a billion pounds, but the heavyweight legend ended up losing it all due to extravagant spending and costly tastes.
However, he has managed to rebuild his fortune and still holds a substantial net worth today. Here's everything you need to know. The 58 year old has disclosed that he has been 'begged' not to participate in the fight but remains determined to prove himself against a much younger opponent to demonstrate he still has what it takes.
Naturally, he will be rewarded generously with both men set to significantly increase their bank balances as a result of the fight. Tyson, considered one of the greatest heavyweight fighters ever, is believed to have amassed over $300 million (£234 million) throughout his boxing career. Indeed, Forbes has suggested that his career earnings could exceed half a billion pounds, estimating them at a staggering $685million (£535million).
He raked in £80 million in a single night when he was defeated by Lennox Lewis in 2002, and accumulated nearly £50 million from his fights with Evander Holyfield and Frank Bruno. However, Tyson squandered his vast fortune and declared bankruptcy in 2003, attributing his financial downfall to excessive spending and poor financial management, leaving him $23 million in debt. His extravagant lifestyle included purchasing grand mansions, high-end sports cars, hosting opulent parties, and reportedly spending millions on legal fees.
Among his most lavish purchases were a solid gold bathtub for his now ex-wife costing £1.75 million, and two pet tigers setting him back at least £100,000. READ MORE: What UK time is Paul vs Tyson READ MORE: Bellew mocks Paul at Tyson press conference Despite this, Tyson is believed to have gradually rebuilt his net worth to around £10 million, partly through operating a successful cannabis business and podcast series.
Earlier this year, the heavyweight legend confessed that there was a point in his career when he would spend $5 million within 48 hours. "Five million dollars might go in a couple of days, yeah. I'm a big spender," he said.
"Not now but when I was a young kid, $5million might go in a couple of days." When asked if he regretted it, however, he said: "Never! I had such a great time." The exact details of each fighter's contract have not been disclosed, but Tyson has downplayed the amount of money he is set to receive from fighting Paul.
"This fight is not going to change my life financially," he told SPORTBible. "If I did it for free, it's not going to change my life. My wife is constantly telling me, you do not need to do this fight.
This is what I want to do, this is me. I'm seeking my glory." That said, Tyson is still reportedly set to earn around $20 million (£15.
5m) from the fight. Some sources claim the purse will be split 50:50 between the two men, but Paul has boasted that he is set to make double what his opponent is getting, claiming he will go home with $40 million (£31 million) for fighting the boxing legend. Tyson has been married three times and has fathered seven children - Mikey, Rayna, Amir, Miguel, Exodus, Milan and Morocco.
He had his first child, Mikey, out of wedlock with his girlfriend, model Kimberly Scarborough, in 1990. Tyson had been married to Robin Givens from 1988 to 1989 but they didn't have any children, with the actress sadly miscarrying after falling pregnant. The boxing legend then welcomed his second and third children, Rayna and Amir, with his second wife, paediatrician Monica Turner.
The couple divorced in 2003, and Tyson later had two more children, Miguel and Exodus, with Sol Xochitl, an exotic dancer, although they never married. In a tragic turn of events, Exodus passed away at the tender age of four in 2009 after an accident at home involving a treadmill cord. Shortly after this heartbreaking loss, Tyson tied the knot with his current wife, Lakiha Spicer, and they have been blessed with two children, Milan and Morocco.
When asked what advice he'd offer his kids, Tyson shared: "Pray more and work harder," emphasizing the importance of hard work and self-belief over financial handouts. "Be the hardest worker and believe yourself. I can't help them by giving them [my kids] money.
I can only hurt them if I give them money." He further explained the value of life's struggles, saying: "They have to learn because if they have no aspirations and experience no adversity, at the slightest fight they will give in." Fans are eagerly awaiting the upcoming Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul fight, which is slated to begin around 4am UK time on Saturday, November 16 (10pm Friday local time in Arlington, Texas).
The main card, featuring four fights, is scheduled to start at 7pm in Arlington, or 1am UK time. Depending on how long the earlier fights last, the headline event could potentially kick off sooner or later than initially planned. The bout, set to feature eight two-minute rounds, will be broadcast live on Netflix, marking the streaming service's debut in live combat sports.
Those with a Netflix subscription can watch Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson without any additional charges. The monthly subscription plans begin at £4.99, inclusive of adverts, and go up to £17.
99 for the Ultra HD service..
