Dana White Shares Major Concerns for Mike Tyson’s Health Ahead of Fight with Jake Paul

UFC CEO Dana White has always been close with boxing legend Mike Tyson, and ahead of Tyson’s return to the ring, White isn’t hiding his worry.

The 58-year-old icon is set to go toe-to-toe with 27-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul this Friday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The match, which serves as the main event for the first live sporting event to be streamed on Netflix, has stirred up mixed reactions—especially given the 31-year age difference.

White, who spoke out on “The Jim Rome Show,” expressed deep concerns about Tyson’s health in this high-stakes fight. “I will not say anything bad about this fight because I love Mike Tyson,” White said. “The only thing that I hope is that Mike comes out of this fight healthy.”

He added, “At 58 years old, I mean, I’m 55, and obviously, I’ve never been the level of athlete that Mike Tyson is, but 27 vs. 58? It’s hard to consistently work out at that age just for health purposes and not get hurt. To train for something like this? It’s just – I love Mike. I hope he makes a bunch of money on Friday, and I hope he comes out healthy.”

For fans who have followed Tyson’s career, his last bout was an exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr. four years ago, which ended in a friendly draw where neither fighter seemed intent on doing damage. But Tyson’s last true professional match was way back in 2005, a TKO loss to Kevin McBride. Although he was an unstoppable force in the late 1980s as the WBC and IBF heavyweight champion, his days of dominance in the ring are long past.

White understands the temptation of stepping back into the spotlight for a lucrative payday, even when health risks loom. “When you’ve accomplished what Mike Tyson has accomplished, and that type of money is offered to you, it’s hard to not,” White said, clarifying, “It’s [not] about Mike having money issues or anything like that. Mike does fine. Mike does well, but when you have that type of money waved in front of you – I’ve told this story, it’s been told a million times. When Mike was going to fight before, I said, ‘Mike, don’t do this.’ So, I put him on Shark Week. I get a deal done for him to do Shark Week. He’s like, ‘Oh, you care about me? I’ve been fighting since I was 12, but you want to throw me in the water with sharks? You’re an idiot.’ And I can’t disagree with him. He’s absolutely right.”

White’s final words were heartfelt: “At the end of the day, it’s none of our business, it’s Mike Tyson’s business. He’s a grown man, he does what he wants to do, and I love him and I just want the best for him.”

As Tyson prepares to step through the ropes once again, fans and friends alike will be holding their breath, hoping he emerges unscathed.