Boxing legend Mike Tyson reportedly plans to tattoo his entire face after his fight with YouTuber Jake Paul.
Ahead of the match, Tyson revealed his disciplined preparation, including prayer and sacrifices like abstaining from sex, cannabis, and psychedelics for months.
Mike Tyson also dismissed critics calling the fight a money grab, emphasizing it’s about ego, not finances.
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Mike Tyson Wants To Expand Iconic Tattoo to Cover Entire Face After Jake Paul Fight
In a recent interview with the New York Post, Tyson shared his plan to expand his tattoo to cover his entire face following his fight against Jake Paul at the AT&T Center in Arlington, Texas.
The 58-year-old boxing icon, who made headlines in 2003 with a striking tribal tattoo on the left side of his face, shared: “I’m thinking about some tattoos.”
He added, “I think I just want to do my face, my whole face.”
When pressed for details about the design, Tyson chose not to say: “I’m not going to tell you, but it’s going to be interesting.”
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The Boxer Sees His Face Tattoo As A Form Of ‘Liberation’
Tyson was one of the first celebrities to embrace a facial tattoo, a daring move that stunned the public 20 years ago. While reflecting on his tattoo journey, the legendary heavyweight champion expressed no regrets.
“I think it’s liberation,” he told the news outlet. “I don’t care if somebody’s not going to put me on their plane or let me on their yacht or anything. [The face tattoo] allows me to be me.”
Still, Tyson admits that he occasionally forgets about his tattoo until he notices others sporting similar ink.
“Sometimes I forget that I have one, and I look at someone else and think, ‘Wow, that guy looks really crazy,'” the boxer said.
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Mike Tyson Shares His Pre-Fight Routine While Dismissing Cash Grab Criticism
As the countdown to his fight against Paul continues, Tyson shared how he plans to prepare mentally and physically for the challenge ahead.
“I’ll be in bed before I go to the fight, take a warm bath, watch some karate movies,” he explained. “Then cold showers before the fight.”
For Tyson, a devout Muslim, his pre-fight ritual also includes time for prayer. However, he shared that his prayers are never about dominating his opponent.
“I never pray and wish that I kick somebody’s ass in a fight,” he said. “I believe God loves the other guy as much as he loves me. I pray I don’t get killed. But not that I win.”
Though some critics have dismissed the event as a cash grab, Tyson, who is reportedly earning $20 million for this fight, brushed off those claims.
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“Money doesn’t mean nothing,” he stated firmly. “Money from this is not going to change my life. I’m living a great life. My cannabis company is the biggest in the world. Money has nothing to do with this. If anything, it’s about ego.”
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He Slapped Jake Paul During The Weigh-in
In the lead-up to their showdown, Tyson and Paul stepped on the scales, with tensions peaking during the customary face-off. Fans were left stunned when Tyson slapped the YouTuber-turned-boxer, sparking immediate speculation about the cause.
According to Tyson’s longtime friend and former training partner, Tom Patti, the incident was a reaction to Paul stepping on Tyson’s foot during the tense exchange.
“Jake stepped on Mike’s foot, that prompted the reaction,” Patti explained to USA Today. “I was there, and Mike just told me.”
He added: “My personal opinion (is) Jake shows enough disrespect that he starts crawling up to Mike and then pouncing in front of him… like some sort of lurching animal. Mike put him in his place.”
Footage from the event appears to confirm Patti’s account, showing Paul wearing sneakers and stepping on Tyson’s right foot while the retired boxer stood in his socks.
Tyson didn’t hold back when addressing the incident: “I was in my socks and he had on shoes, he stepped on my toe because he is a f-cking a-shole. I was in a lot of pain. I had to reciprocate.”
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Mike Tyson Shares How He Stays On Top And Abstains From Sex And Drugs
In the lead-up to his highly anticipated fight, Tyson has made significant sacrifices to stay at the top of his game.
The boxing legend revealed he’s gone six months without sex, a full year without cannabis, and just as long without his favored psychedelic substances.
“I’m the kind of guy who’s willing to sacrifice for success,” Tyson said. “Whatever I can sacrifice to accomplish goals, I do it. I’m focused on the fight … I don’t worry about anything but winning.”
However, once the match is over, Tyson is ready to let loose.
When asked what he’ll turn to first, he quickly answered, “Whatever I want to do – cannabis, psychedelics, whatever. It’ll be the first thing I can get. Now, though, it’s all secondary to the work.”
Tyson shared a particularly intense memory while reflecting on his past psychedelic experiences.
“The last psychedelic I did was frog venom,” he recalled. “It’s like death with your heart still beating.”