Boxing legend Mike Tyson has faced countless formidable opponents throughout his dramatic life, but none have proven as persistent as an unexpected foe: foot fungus.
The Sockless Fighting Habit
During a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel's talk show, the 59-year-old former heavyweight champion revealed his unusual training habit of fighting without socks. Tyson admitted this was partly a fashion choice, telling the 57-year-old host: "I only used it in the fights where that was my image. It was very tough, without socks."
This barefoot approach, hidden beneath his high boxing boots, appears to have had lasting consequences for the fighter's foot health. Tyson confessed: "Somehow I discovered I had a disintegrating dose of fungus on my feet. And it was very bad. Now it's still very bad."
A Persistent Opponent
When Kimmel humorously suggested that foot fungus might be Tyson's "greatest opponent," the boxer surprisingly agreed. "Well, I would have to say yes because it's still kicking my ass now," Tyson responded with characteristic bluntness.
The conversation took an amusing turn when Kimmel proposed a potential sponsorship deal with antifungal powder Desenex. Tyson dismissed the over-the-counter treatment with a laugh, stating: "Desenex can't help me. My toes look like they've exploded."
Life Beyond the Ring
Tyson's appearance on Kimmel's show comes nearly a year after his disappointing defeat to then-27-year-old Jake Paul. Despite this setback, the boxing icon continues to pursue diverse projects.
Following the success of his 2013 one-man show "Mike Tyson: The Undisputed Truth," he's preparing to return to the stage with another solo performance. Additionally, Tyson plans to participate in an exhibition match against 48-year-old Floyd Mayweather Jr next spring.
Throughout his extraordinary life, Tyson has survived a traumatic childhood, prison time, a debilitating cocaine addiction, and his famous 2002 knockout loss to Lennox Lewis. Yet it's the humble foot fungus that continues to challenge the hardened fighter in his later years.
