Mike Tyson's camp has confirmed the boxing legend has quit smoking marijuana in preparation for his fight with Jake Paul, but only because the US state of Texas prohibits the use of the substance.
With the fight set to take place July 20 at AT&T Stadium in the Lone Star State, Tyson, a daily user of cannabis, has curtailed his use of the drug in the lead-up. Marijuana is on the list of banned substances used by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), which regulates combat sports in the state.
"He only stopped as a means of following all of the rules,'' Tyson's publicist Joann Mignano told USA TODAY.
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"But he is still a strong advocate for the medicinal benefits of cannabis for his personal well-being and others like him.''
After fighting Roy Jones Jr. in an exhibition in 2020, Tyson said he used marijuana the day of the fight and has openly smoked weed on his "Hotboxin" podcast.
Cannabis is not only a life choice for Tyson, but he's also viewed as a cannabis entrepreneur, selling cannabis and his own brand of edibles, Tyson 2.0, which comes in the shape of ears, in reference to his infamous clash with Evander Holyfield in 1996.
"Maybe it has something to do with my tripolar tendencies or something," Tyson told Fox News earlier this month.
"But I don't think I am going to smoke for this fight. I think I am going to be very irritable and nasty.
"Normally I do, but for this particular fight I think I'm going to go pretty raw and naked."
Tyson has also admitted to taking what he called "mushrooms," a psychedelic drug, before fights, however, he will also have to refrain from that because it is also banned in Texas.
Tyson's publicist Mignano confirmed the veteran boxer will comply with the rules even though a failed drug test would not jeopardise the proposed fight.
Drug tests, which are random, are conducted only on the day of a fight and results are unavailable for at least a week.
In Texas, drug testing does not take place before an exhibition, however, it's still unclear if the fight between Tyson and Paul will be an exhibition or a professional bout.
Texas is one of only 19 states that still tests for marijuana, since its legalisation has spread across the US.
Meantime, the Tyson-Paul fight card received a boost, with the announcement that Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano will have a rematch as the co-main event on the night.
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