Mike Tyson has revealed that he has been living with a foot fungus. The 59-year-old famously never wore socks in the ring throughout his boxing career – and he may now be suffering the effects of that decision. Tyson is one of the greatest boxers in the history of the sport and hung up his gloves in 2005 after winning 50 fights and losing seven. He reigned as the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world between 1987 and 1990.
The American made a hotly-anticipated return to the ring last November when he faced Jake Paul in Texas. The bout was streamed by Netflix, with more than 60 million people tuning in to watch. But Tyson ultimately lost against a man who is 31 years his junior.
Tyson appeared as a guest on the talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live and when Kimmel asked him why he never wore socks in the ring, the legendary boxer explained: “I only used to for fighting, where that was my image. It was real hardcore, no socks.”
Tyson then admitted: “But then, I somehow discovered that I had a disintegrating dose of foot fungus. And it was really bad. It’s still really bad now.”
After being asked if the fungus was his “greatest opponent”, the heavyweight great added: “Well, I would have to say so because it’s still kicking my a** now.”
Kimmel then joked that his guest would be able to advertise Desenex, a brand of antifungal products. But Tyson exclaimed: “Desenex cannot help me. My toes look like they blew up.”
Tyson’s most recent fight a year ago proved to be a drab affair, with Paul winning the contest via a unanimous decision.
But the older of the duo will fight once again next spring after agreeing to enter the ring with Floyd Mayweather.
And discussing his bout with Mayweather during an interview with Hard Rock Bet, Tyson insisted: “Floyd wanted to fight me. Think I got a pretty decent relationship with him. I don’t hate him, you know what I’m speaking. I don’t have any harsh feelings. I have no idea [when the fight will take place], maybe in March or April.”
Paul, meanwhile, is in talks with Anthony Joshua over another blockbuster showdown, with the duo discussing the prospect of going head-to-head in Miami before Christmas.
And Joshua’s promoter Eddie Heard explained: “We will see if Paul’s interest is real. Would it be great for Joshua’s legacy? No. But I’ll tell you what is [great] – two-time heavyweight world champion and an Olympic gold medal. This is an opportunity and fair play to Paul if he wants to get in that ring because AJ won’t be messing about.”