Tyson has transformed his life over the last decade (Photo: Glenn Francis)
Ex-boxer Mike Tyson has been making headlines recently after hinting that he was keen to step back into the ring.
The former heavyweight champion has been sharing training footage and pictures of himself, leading pundits to comment on how in shape the athlete appears.
Tyson, who retired in 2005 had well-documented struggles with drugs, alcohol, and food, leading him to put on huge amounts of weight, tipping the scales at a reported 378lb (27 stone, 171.8kg). But now, social media content shows the fighter looking muscular and trim.
‘Get in shape’
Tyson revealed in a recent Instagram Live with rapper T.I. that he has been working out and is considering some exhibition bouts, saying: “I’ve been hitting the mitts for the last week. That’s been tough, my body is really jacked up and really sore from hitting the mitts.
“I’ve been working out, I’ve been trying to get in the ring, I think I’m going to box some exhibitions and get in shape. I want to go to the gym and get in shape to be able to box three or four-round exhibitions for some charities and stuff.
“Some charity exhibitions, make some money, help some homeless and drug-affected motherf****er like me. I do two hours on cardio, I do the bike and the treadmill for an hour, then I do some light weights, 300, 250 reps. Then I start my day with the boxing thing, I go in there and hit the mitts, 30 minutes, 25 minutes, start getting in better condition.”
Veganism
Tyson has credited veganism for playing a role in his turnaround, telling Oprah Winfrey in 2013 that he ‘hit rock bottom’ in 2009.
He added: “My life is different today because I have stability in my life. I’m not on drugs. I’m not out on the streets or in clubs and everything in my life that I do now is structured around the development of my life and my family.
“I lost weight. I dropped over 100lbs and I just felt like changing my life, doing something different and I became a vegan.
“Becoming a vegan gave me another opportunity to live a healthy life. I was so congested from all the drugs and bad cocaine, I could hardly breathe. High blood pressure, almost dying, arthritis, and once I became a vegan all that stuff diminished.”
