Mike Tyson’s Temporary Goodbye to Ganja: Training Clean for the Jake Paul Showdown

At the seasoned age of 57, Mike Tyson is facing a challenge that might be tougher than going toe-to-toe with someone 30 years his junior. As he preps for a much-anticipated bout with 27-year-old Jake Paul on July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Tyson is taking a step back from one of his well-known habits—smoking marijuana.

Known as much for his cannabis advocacy as his fearsome punches, Tyson’s relationship with weed has been as public as his boxing career. Whether he was lighting up during his 275 episode-long stint on the podcast “Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson” or boasting about using on the day of his 2020 exhibition fight against Roy Jones Jr., Tyson has never shied away from a puff. But Texas rules are making him rethink his routine.

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), which oversees combat sports in the state, has strict policies against marijuana, with penalties that include a 90-day suspension and potentially altering match outcomes for failed drug tests. This isn’t just a theoretical concern; back in 2001, Tyson faced a suspension and a fine after testing positive post-fight.

Tyson’s publicist, Joann Mignano, emphasized that Tyson’s decision to abstain is purely to comply with regulations, but reassured that Tyson remains a staunch advocate for the plant’s medicinal properties. The complexities of the situation are heightened by Tyson’s past use of psychedelics like mushrooms before fights, another no-go in Texas, according to TDLR’s communications manager, Tela Mange.

The fight’s logistics add another layer of intrigue. It’s still up in the air whether Tyson’s showdown with Paul will be classified as an exhibition or a professional fight, a distinction that affects testing protocols. Unlike the upcoming Texas clash, Tyson’s 2020 Los Angeles fight saw no marijuana testing, aligning with California’s more lenient stance towards the drug.

Meanwhile, Tyson seems to be feeling the absence of his herbal routine. “I think I’m going to be really, really irritable and nasty,” he remarked on Fox News, discussing his training regime sans cannabis.

This bout not only puts Tyson’s adaptability to the test but also shines a light on the evolving relationship between sports regulations and marijuana usage—a contentious dance between old prohibitions and new acceptance. As July 20 draws near, all eyes will be on Tyson, not just for his performance in the ring, but for his compliance out of it.

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