Renowned boxing figure Mike Tyson recently disclosed on a podcast that he had used the opioid fentanyl during the early stages of his career.
Recognized as one of the most relentless fighters in boxing history, Tyson reached the height of his career in the late 1980s and early ’90s. He was merely 20 years, 4 months, and 22 days old when he secured his first championship title.
During the latest episode of the Katie Miller Podcast, Tyson, whose career has been marred by controversy – including a three-year prison sentence for rape and the infamous incident with Evander Holyfield’s ear – discussed his current role as CEO of Carma HoldCo, a parent company in the cannabis industry.
“From my perspective, using cannabis, that’s safer than using alcohol, cocaine or anything from that perspective, or fentanyl,” he explained to Miller.
The former athlete, who lost an exhibition bout against Jake Paul at age 58 last year, shared his personal experience with fentanyl, a potent and potentially deadly drug.
“I’ve done fentanyl before. In the late ’90s, when it first came here, it was a painkiller, and I used to use it to patch up my toe,” Tyson revealed during the podcast.
“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 or something.”
Tyson admitted that had he not realized it was a banned substance in sports, he might have continued its use.
“It was brand new. I told my friend, ‘Could I use this?’ No-one ever heard of it.'”
Fentanyl is known to be 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.
In other news, it was recently announced that the ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’ will face fellow boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr in another exhibition match next spring.
“When CSI [Sports] came to me about stepping in the ring with Floyd Mayweather, I thought, ‘No way this happens,’ but, Floyd said yes,” Tyson stated in a press release.
“This fight is something neither the world nor I ever thought would or could happen. However, boxing has entered a new era of the unpredictable — and this fight is as unpredictable as it gets.
“I still can’t believe Floyd wants to really do this. It’s going to be detrimental to his health, but he wants to do it, so it’s signed and it’s happening!”
Mayweather, an undefeated boxer with a record of 50 professional fights from 1996 to 2017, appears unfazed by the upcoming bout.
“I’ve been doing this for 30 years and there hasn’t been a single fighter that can tarnish my legacy,” said the 48-year-old.
“You already know that if I am going to do something, it’s going to be big and it’s going to be legendary. I’m the best in the business of boxing. This exhibition will give the fans what they want.”