UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping argues that the mid-flight medical scare suffered by Mike Tyson this week is another reason why the fight shouldn’t go ahead.
Earlier this week, boxing icon Mike Tyson suffered an ‘ulcer flare-up’ during a flight from Miami to Los Angeles and required medical assistance from paramedics.
Unsurprisingly, the incident has left some within the combat sports community with a sour taste as the upcoming fight against Jake Paul appears to be going ahead as planned.
Mike Tyson recovering after he suffered mid-flight health emergency
A representative of Mike Tyson told People magazine earlier this week that “Thankfully, Mr. Tyson is doing great,” with the statement explaining that “he became nauseous and dizzy due to an ulcer flare-up 30 minutes before landing.”
Tyson later shared that he’s “now feeling 100, even though I don’t need to be to beat Jake Paul,” with their highly controversial boxing fight set for July 20.
‘The Problem Child’ also responded to online speculation that the bout could be canceled due to the medical scare, noting that “nothing [has] changed” in regard to the event’s divisive headlining attraction.
UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping reacts to the medical scare
Reacting to the unfortunate situation via his official YouTube channel, UFC Hall of Famer and former middleweight champion Michael Bisping noted that whilst the saying goes ‘There’s no such thing as bad publicity’, that doesn’t always hold true: “Well there’s some bad press regarding this one.”
“Mike Tyson was involved in a medical emergency, paramedics had to be rushed onto the plane, the doctors had to come on to take Mike Tyson off the plane: It’s not a good look… This is not good press when you are trying to promote a fight when you are 58 years old.”
Whilst the former UFC middleweight king noted that he has all the respect in the world for Mike Tyson and his decision to take on the significantly younger Jake Paul, there shouldn’t even be a ‘latest medical scare’ in the first place.
“I respect him, this is taking massive balls to go in there against Jake Paul… Now listen, maybe it was an ulcer flare-up, I don’t know anything about ulcers, but what I do know is that the man is going to be 58 years old – a man in the prime of his life doesn’t have a problem sitting on a plane for a few hours.”
Bisping reiterated that the entire situation is “not a good look” for either the sport of boxing, or Jake Paul specifically; adding how “This is just a great example of why a fight like this should not be going ahead.”
“I’m not talking s*** about Mike Tyson, he wants to test the waters, he wants to make some money and feel alive, and he wants to do what he does best… But that time has passed, that ship has sailed, that plane has left the runway – but not for a while because it was hot on the plane and then Mike Tyson got an ulcer flare-up.”
‘The Count’ noted that the medical scare only adds to the controversy surrounding the fight, given that the vast majority of the criticism being levied against Paul revolves around the age of the veteran boxer.
“I think the man is pushing 60 and he’s got some medical problems; maybe he just had a bit of food poisoning or had some food that just didn’t agree with him, but what we do know is that he was carted off the plan by paramedic and they did ask for medical assistance… That’s not a good look.”
Bisping also took the opportunity to slam Jake Paul for not only taking such a fight in the first place, but for the manner in which the bout is being promoted by the budding superstar:
“Jake Paul’s in the prime of his life and he’s just cherry-picking another opponent to bolster his resume to make himself look good – it’s absolutely embarrassing, it’s a shame, it’s a sham, it’s utter horses***.”
At the time of writing, Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul is still set to go ahead for July 20; with former UFC title challenger Darren Till also set to make his professional boxing debut on the undercard.