Boxing legend Mike Tyson has revealed that he used fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, during the 1990s to manage pain. The 59-year-old, who is planning a return to the ring, spoke openly about his struggles with addiction on a podcast with Katie Miller.
Tyson said he used the drug to alleviate discomfort in his toe. 'It was a painkiller, and I used to use it to patch up my toe,' he explained. 'It was like heroin – once it wears off and you take the Band-Aid off, you start withdrawing, throwing up, just like if you were on heroin.' He added that it was illegal if found in his bloodstream.
The former heavyweight champion confessed he was 'on the verge of dying' due to his alcoholism. 'I want to change my life,' Tyson told The Fight Network in 2020. 'I want to live a different life now. I want to live my sober life. I don't want to die. I'm on the verge of dying because I'm a vicious alcoholic.'
Tyson is now preparing for an exhibition match against Floyd Mayweather, despite a six-weight-class difference. The fight follows Tyson's defeat to Jake Paul last year, which was rescheduled due to a medical emergency on a flight.
'This fight is something neither the world nor I ever thought would or could happen,' Tyson said. Mayweather added: 'I'm the best in the business of boxing. This exhibition will give the fans what they want.'
