Mike Tyson said he agreed to fight Jake Paul because he was high, and got high before the crossover fight, too.
Speaking to Fox News this week, Tyson — who advocates for marijuana reform at a federal level — said he may not have even agreed to the fight had he not been stoned, and consumed the substance shortly before the opening bell.
Mike Tyson Was High When he Agreed to Fight Jake Paul
The heavyweight got high before the fight started, too
Tyson told Fox News Digital that he was under the influence of marijuana when he agreed to the fight with Jake Paul, and perhaps would not have gone through with it had he been of a clear mind at the time. He then consumed it "not long before" the fight itself started.
Though Tyson lasted the eight-round distance, he lost by decision, and felt the urge to top his dose up shortly after.
He said: "As soon as it ended, I needed a joint. Let’s get out of here. It was like I was dreaming. It was like a dream. It was beautiful. It felt like I won the fight."
There has been great speculation whether Tyson will return to the ring again, perhaps not for a fully-sanctioned fight like the Paul bout, but an exhibition, like the one he took part in alongside Roy Jones Jr in the first year of the coronavirus pandemic. Paul even fought on the undercard of that event.
His participation, though, "depends on if cannabis ever becomes legal or not and rescheduled," he said.