Mike Tyson video raises questions about his knee. Boxer has no injury, says agent.
Mike Tyson’s agent told USA TODAY Sports the boxer is wearing a compression sleeve on his right knee as a preventative measure and does not have an injury.
The issue surfaced after a video clip of Tyson sparring was posted on the boxer’s Instagram page and X account. Video showed Tyson, 58, wearing a black compression sleeve on his right knee, raising questions about his condition ahead of his scheduled heavyweight fight against Jake Paul on Nov. 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Andrew Ruf, Tyson’s agent, said by text message the compression sleeve is “preventative,’’ like one tennis star Novak Djokovic has worn.
“I think the same brand even,’’ Ruf said. “No injury here. He’s looking invincible.’’
Ruf said he'd seen Tyson wear the compression sleeve in training before and asked about it.
"...that's how I know Djokovic uses it,'' he said.
Djokovic, winner of 24 Grand Slams, wore a compression sleeve on his right knee this year after having surgery for a torn meniscus.
Tyson's publicist, Joann Mignano, said the boxer "is currently training and ensuring that his body is healthy and strong. The knee support is strictly for preventative measures and has zero relevance on his performance or capabilities to win this fight.''
Tyson experienced a medical emergency May 26 that his team said resulted from an "ulcer flare-up.'' That led to the postponement of the fight, originally scheduled for July 20.
Teddy Atlas, who worked with Tyson under famed trainer Cus D’Amato when Tyson was a teenager, watched the video clip of Tyson sparring with Mike Russell – the first footage released of Tyson sparring while training to fight Paul – and addressed the compression sleeve.
“Didn't seem to be anything restricted in his movements or his legs coming forward,’’ Atlas told USA TODAY Sports. ”Usually when you have a knee problem, it would restrict you or compromise you more going to the side. Tyson don't go to the side anymore. He mostly goes straightforward.
“Is (the sleeve) there because there was a problem, is a problem? I didn’t see any proof of that by what he was doing.’’
The video of Tyson sparring appears to have caught the eye of Chuck Norris, the martial arts legend whose verified Instagram page commented, "Looking sharp, Mike!"
Follow reporter Josh Peter on social media @joshlpeter11
(This story was updated with new information).
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Mike Tyson hurt? Boxer's agent says knee sleeve is 'preventative'