Mike Tyson is opening up about the emotional toll following his high-profile loss to Jake Paul. Last month, the two fighters faced off in one of the biggest boxing events of the year, attracting an audience of 60 million viewers on Netflix. While the fight was billed as a major spectacle, Tyson admits that the aftermath left him struggling with feelings of depression.
In a candid interview with Steve Covino and Rich Davis on Fox Sports Radio, Tyson shared how the emotional highs of preparing for such a monumental event quickly turned into a low after the fight ended. “That fight was such a big ascent—we were so up and high, we were so excited,” Tyson explained. “The fight’s over, boom. Wow, I’m kind of depressed a little bit. We got to get back [into] our living situation, back to living. We were training for it for nine months.”
For Tyson, the letdown after such intense preparation and anticipation was difficult to shake off.
The emotional contrast of the buildup to the fight and the sudden return to normalcy left him feeling empty, struggling to adjust to life after the fight.
RELATED: Mike Tyson Admits to Having No Memory of His Fight with Jake Paul
Tyson also revealed that he doesn’t remember much of the fight itself, further highlighting the mental toll the experience had on him. “I don’t remember the fight that much, I kind of blanked out a little,” he said. “I remember coming back from the first round and Jake is doing some kind of … I don’t know what he was doing [leans forward pretending to bow] and that’s the last thing I remember.”
The lack of memory of the fight is particularly surprising considering the high stakes and the intense preparation that went into it. Tyson’s vulnerability in talking about this experience sheds light on the emotional and psychological challenges that athletes can face, even after major public events.
Despite his struggles, Tyson reportedly earned $20 million for the fight, which may have provided some financial relief in the weeks following the loss. While money can ease certain burdens, Tyson’s openness about his mental state shows that emotional recovery is a different, often more difficult challenge.
His comments about the post-fight depression offer a rare glimpse into the complex mental health aspects of professional athletes’ lives. Tyson’s candidness about his experience serves as a reminder of the psychological difficulties athletes face after such intense and public events, even when their careers are financially secure.
