Mike Tyson reveals psychedelic toad convinced him to make boxing comeback against Roy Jones Jr before Jake Paul, Evander Holyfield and co. made return a ‘fiasco’

Mike Tyson says he decided to end his 15-year boxing retirement due to an experience with the psychedelic ‘Toad Venom’.

The former heavyweight champion returned to the ring in 2020 for an exhibition fight against Roy Jones Jr and after eight rounds of boxing, the bout was declared a draw.

Getty Images – Getty

Before that, he had last laced up gloves in 2005 where he ended his professional career with a loss to Kevin McBride.

“I did this toad, this DMT stuff and I lost that weight,” the former champion told The Joe Rogan Experience on his decision to box again.

“I don’t know what happened. I just said I’m going to do this. I did this toad and this toad said, ‘You gotta do this. You have to do it.’”

According to AddictionCenter.com, the practice of smoking Toad Venom has become popular in the United States. The Colorado River or Sonoran Desert toad excretes toxins containing 5-MeO-DMT, a Psychedelic chemical.

After the liquid is dried into a paste, the paste is then smoked. Users feel the impact of Toad Venom almost immediately and are ‘physically incapacitated’ for around 30 minutes.

The trip is complete within one hour and is believed to leave users with an altered mood and perception. Some users, such as Tyson, make major changes because of their new outlook on life.

The 55-year-old went on to explain he was originally supposed to fight MMA fighter and actor Bob Sapp before other people, like YouTuber Jake Paul and legendary rival Evander Holyfield, got involved and his comeback became a ‘fiasco’.

Both Paul and Holyfield have also taken part in controversial fights organised by Triller, the promotion who ran Tyson’s comeback.

Joe Scarnici/Triller

“The fight I fought with Roy Jones was supposed to be with Bob Sapp, I wouldn’t have to chase this guy around.

“Next thing you know, Roy Jones got involved, other fighters got involved. Holyfield got involved and then it turned into a fiasco.

“Then the young guy, Jake Paul, got involved and that’s how the birth of Jake Paul became.”

Since walking away from boxing for the second time Tyson has been focusing on his popular podcast – Hotboxin – as well as putting time into his flourishing cannabis company. 

talkSPORT will bring you live coverage of the huge heavyweight world title fight between Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte at Wembley on Saturday night, with our coverage starting from 7.30pm and featuring expert ringside analysis from Ben Davison