Mike Tyson‘s storied career has been closely observed by the world, but there are still some discoveries that have yet to be widely revealed. The renowned boxer spoke about how he has had experience using fentanyl during his boxing career decades ago — a confession that shocked many.
While speaking on The Katie Miller Podcast about his journey as a cannabis entrepreneur, Tyson delved into the substances he has used before. He said he was initially exposed to fentanyl for pain relief, but experienced withdrawal symptoms when he attempted to stop.
“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. 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,” he said.
The 59-year-old added he did it “quite a few times,” but stopped because it “was illegal if it [was] caught in my bloodstream,” which he was initially unaware of.
He explained, “It was a narcotic, my friend told me. It was brand new. I told my friend, ‘Could I use this? Would I be able to use this?’ No one ever heard of it.’ You couldn’t use it, and I didn’t know that. I thought it was a painkiller.” The boxer added he would have continued to use it if he was allowed to.
According to the DEA, fentanyl is a “potent synthetic opioid drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as an analgesic (pain relief) and anesthetic.” It is approximately 50 times more potent than heroin as an analgesic and 100 times more potent than morphine. The CDC reported the drug caused 48,422 overdose-released deaths in the United States back in 2024.
Tyson has opened up about his battles with drug addiction throughout his life. In his autobiography, The Undisputed Truth, he admitted to fighting under the influence of marijuana and cocaine. He said he was a “full-blown cokehead” during certain chapters of his career, and he tested positive for marijuana in 2000 before his fight with Andrew Golota.
The “Baddest Man on the Planet” made headlines last year for stepping into the ring with Jake Paul. In November 2024, the two faced off and Paul defeated Tyson in 8 rounds by a unanimous decision.
Watch Tyson speak about his fentanyl usage above.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 15: (L-R) Mike Tyson and Jake Paul fight during LIVE On Netflix: Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson at AT&T Stadium on November 15, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.
Al Bello/Getty Images for Netflix © 2024
