Mike Tyson is opening up about one of the darkest — and most dangerous — chapters of his boxing career. The legendary former heavyweight champion revealed he used fentanyl in the late 1990s as a way to cope with excruciating pain from the ring, long before the drug became a household name linked to America’s opioid crisis.
Appearing on The Katie Miller Podcast, Tyson explained that he was first introduced to fentanyl through a pain patch.
“That fentanyl stuff, I’ve done fentanyl before in the late 90s when it first came here,” Tyson admitted. “It was for painkillers; it was a painkiller. I used to use it to patch on my toe, but it was like heroin. Once you take it off, wears off. You take the band-aid off, you start withdrawing and throwing up, just like if you were on heroin or something.”
Tyson Says He Didn’t Know It Was Illegal
When host Katie Miller pressed Tyson on how he avoided falling into addiction, the boxing icon clarified that he used it more than once — but stopped when he realized the serious consequences.
“No, I did it quite a few times,” Tyson said. “But know what happened? It was illegal if it was caught in my bloodstream, it was a narcotic.”
He recalled asking a commissioner friend if he could legally use fentanyl during his career, unaware of its classification.
“I told my friend, ‘Hey, can I use this?’ because he was a commissioner. ‘Will I be able to use this?’ You know, no one ever heard of it. Then he looked it up and said, ‘Mike, that’s a narcotic, you couldn’t use it.’ I didn’t know that. I thought of it as a painkiller.”
Mike Tyson’s History With Addiction
Tyson has long been candid about his struggles with substance abuse and mental health, admitting past battles with cocaine, alcohol, and depression. His fentanyl confession adds another layer to the former champion’s turbulent journey — and highlights how dangerous prescription drugs were in the sports world before the opioid epidemic was widely recognized.
He has since rebuilt his life, finding peace through family, business ventures, and even returning to the boxing spotlight through high-profile exhibition bouts.
Tyson vs. Mayweather: The Fight Nobody Saw Coming
In related news, Tyson, now 59 years old, shocked fans by confirming he will step into the ring with fellow legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a blockbuster exhibition fight set for spring 2026.
Tyson announced the bout with his signature bravado:
“This fight is something neither the world nor I ever thought would or could happen. I still can’t believe Floyd wants to really do this. It’s going to be detrimental to his health, but he wants to do it, so it’s signed and it’s happening!”
The clash between Tyson and Mayweather is already generating massive buzz, with boxing fans calling it a dream match between two of the sport’s most dominant figures from different eras.
The Bottom Line
Tyson’s fentanyl admission is a stark reminder of the silent struggles athletes face behind the spotlight, often turning to risky methods to manage pain. As he prepares for a new chapter in the ring, the champ continues to use his platform to share both his victories and his battles — unfiltered.
