Mike Tyson, who is set to take on Jake Paul in a matter of months, has been sent a serious health warning ahead of the boxing match.
Netflix will be streaming the fight, which will take place in the 80,000-capacity AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
This will be 27-year-old Paul's second fight of 2024 following his win over professional boxer Ryan Bourland.
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Meanwhile, the last time Tyson, 57, fought was in an exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr in 2020, which scored as a draw.
However, a doctor has issued a warning to Tyson, claiming that his previous experience with alcoholism could put him at serious risk.
Dr Stephen Hughes, who is a senior lecturer in medicine at Anglia Ruskin University, told The Conversation: "The immediate effects may be minimal; the boxer may simply recover. But on some occasions, the effects may be devastating.
"A subdural haematoma can occur. In this condition, shearing forces cause tearing of bridging veins between the brain and blood vessels within the brain coverings, or meninges."
Dr Hughes continued: "Bleeding from these torn veins causes a collection of blood that presses on the brain. This causes confusion, loss of consciousness, neurological disability and, in some cases, death.
"In older people, the brain tends to lose volume. This lengthens the bridging veins and makes them more vulnerable to rupture. Alcoholism is known to accelerate brain shrinkage, and it appears that Tyson has this as a past risk factor. Shearing forces on the brain cause injury to neurons (brain cells)."
Tyson has been opened up his substance abuse over the years, however, he told Below the Belt that he stopped drinking and doing cocaine before the launch of his Hotboxin podcast in 2019.
It was confirmed last month that Tyson and Paul would be going head-to-head i the ring.
Speaking about the fight, the 57-year-old said: "I'm very much looking forward to stepping into the ring with Jake Paul.
"He's grown significantly as a boxer over the years, so it will be a lot of fun to see what the will and ambition of a 'kid' can do with the experience and aptitude of a GOAT.
"Now I plan to finish him.”
Meanwhile, Paul has his sights firmly set on becoming a world champion, adding: “It’s crazy to think that in my second pro fight, I went viral for knocking out Nate Robinson on Mike Tyson’s undercard.
"Within just two and a half years of founding MVP (Most Valuable Promotions), we’re about to produce the biggest fight in history, a fight in the biggest NFL stadium in the US, broadcast live, on the biggest streaming platform in the world - a testament to all we’ve accomplished in such a short amount of time."
Tyson will face Paul on 20 July.
LADbible has contacted representatives for Mike Tyson for comment.
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Topics: Jake Paul, Mike Tyson, Sport, Boxing, Health
Lucy Devine