Mike Tyson said he used the powerful opioid fentanyl to manage pain during his boxing career, revealing the admission on the "Katie Miller Podcast" published Tuesday.
"It was a painkiller, and I used to use it to patch up my toe," Tyson said on the episode, describing the drug as "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." He added that using the drug was risky because it was illegal if it showed up in his bloodstream and that a friend had introduced him to it.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for certain severe pain treatments but is also widely implicated in fatal overdoses when consumed illicitly or without medical supervision. Public health authorities note the drug is roughly 100 times more potent than morphine and about 50 times more potent than heroin. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention projected that 48,422 people died last year from illicitly consumed fentanyl.
Tyson, now in his late 50s, has publicly discussed struggles with addiction and chronic pain related to his long boxing career. In the podcast, he framed his fentanyl use as a means of dealing with acute foot pain, saying the drug helped "patch up" an injured toe.
Tyson's comments touched on a continued conversation about pain management and substance use among elite athletes who sustain repeated injuries. The former undisputed heavyweight champion became a cultural figure in and out of the ring during the late 1980s and early 1990s and has since remained prominent through media appearances, business ventures and exhibition fights.
Tyson also referenced relationships with fellow fighters in the interview. Arturo Gatti, a close friend who died in 2009, had a longstanding battle with opioids, according to previous interviews cited by outlets. Tyson has previously said addiction and chronic injuries influenced his life after his peak competitive years.
His disclosure comes after several high-profile recent events. Tyson fought and lost to social media boxer Jake Paul in a widely criticized, heavily promoted bout last fall; the two exchanged a physical altercation during weigh-ins when Tyson slapped Paul after Paul stepped on his toe. Tyson is scheduled to return for an exhibition match against Floyd Mayweather in early 2026. He has also invested in and promoted legal cannabis ventures as an alternative for pain relief.
Tyson's remarks add to the ongoing public debate about how athletes receive and manage pain treatment, the risks associated with potent opioids like fentanyl, and the broader opioid crisis in the United States. Public health officials continue to warn that fentanyl's high potency makes it especially dangerous outside of prescribed, medically supervised uses.
Representatives for Tyson did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The podcast episode and Tyson's recorded remarks will likely renew scrutiny of pain-management practices in combat sports and the broader implications for athlete health and safety.