Boxing legend Mike Tyson has made a shocking drug admission during his appearance on the Katie Miller podcast.
The 59-year-old revealed he previously used fentanyl in order to deal with pain during his professional boxing career.
Tyson became the youngest world heavyweight champion in 1986 when he defeated Trevor Berbick to claim the WBC crown.
The heavyweight king made a series of successful defences before suffering his first pro defeat in 1990 against Buster Douglas.
Tyson ended his professional career in 2005 after losing to Kevin McBride. However, he sensationally returned two decades later to fight YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
What was Tyson admission regarding fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid approved in the America by the Food and Drug Administration for pain relief usage. It can also be deadly in small doses.
Tyson’s friend Arturo Gatti, who passed away in 2009, endured a long battle with opioids.
Tyson himself has dealt with addiction throughout his life. He opened up on his fentanyl use during a conversation with Miller.
Mike Tyson opened up on the “Katie Miller Podcast” that he used and relied on fentanyl at one point in his life to deal with pain. https://t.co/fMEyCxES1y pic.twitter.com/8z3tOKjy4g
— TMZ (@TMZ) September 10, 2025
The former heavyweight champion said: “It was a painkiller, and I used to use it to patch up my toe.”
He added: “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.
“It was illegal if it [was] caught in my bloodstream. It was a narcotic, my friend told me. It was brand new. I told my friend, ‘Could I use this?’ No one ever heard of it.”
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), just under 50,000 people died last year as a result of fentanyl.
Tyson preparing for Mayweather
Tyson shocked the sports world last fall when he returned to the ring for a professional bout with Paul.
The fight drew plenty of criticism as it resembled a glorified sparring session. Nevertheless, Tyson is set for another high-profile outing next year.
The American, who turns 60 in June, will enter the ring for an exhibition against Floyd Mayweather.
Details for the high-profile showdown are yet to be announced, though the event is expected to attract a lot of eyeballs.
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