The Baddest Vegan on the Planet! ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson, 54, says he dropped 100 pounds for his upcoming return to the ring by cutting out meat and using a treadmill for up to two hours a day

• While promoting his upcoming return to the ring against Roy Jones Jr., 54-year-old Mike Tyson said he dropped 100 pounds for the fight by going vegan
• He also spent up to two hours a day on the treadmill at the urging of his wife 
• The boxers are raising money for charity with a $49.99 pay-per-view exhibition
• Both Tyson and Jones will use heavily padded 12-ounce gloves and the referee is expected to stop the fight quickly if either boxer looks to be in any trouble 
• Tyson hasn’t fought since 2005, when he quit on his stool against Kevin McBride

Once known as ‘The Baddest Man of the Planet,’ Mike Tyson no longer poses any threat to the animal kingdom after dropping 100 pounds for his upcoming return to the ring by going vegan.

Speaking with ABC’s Good Morning America on Monday, the 54-year-old retiree was asked about his preparation for Saturday’s exhibition against 51-year-old Roy Jones Jr. in Los Angeles.

‘It was difficult, but only for one particular reason: because I had to lose 100 pounds,’ Tyson said. ‘But other than that, I’ve always done this my whole career.’

Tyson (50-6-4) was then asked the obvious follow-up question: How did he lose 100 pounds?

‘I became a vegan,’ Tyson said, adding, ‘my wife [Lakiha Spicer] told me to get on the treadmill. So I went from 15 minutes on the treadmill and I winded up ending at two hours.’

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Speaking with ABC’s Good Morning America on Monday, Mike Tyson, 54, was asked about his preparation for Saturday’s exhibition against 51-year-old Roy Jones Jr. in Los Angeles

Tyson said he weighs 100 pounds less now than he did when he first began preparing to fight

Tyson (pictured right in 2008) says he dropped 100 pounds for Saturday’s fight against Jones

The former heavyweight champion, who now owns a marijuana farm in California, is attempting to raise money for charity with Saturday’s $49.95 pay-per-view.

But unlike 49 of his 58 career bouts, Saturday’s fight with Jones is unlikely to end in a knockout. 

Not only is it an exhibition (the fighters will use heavily padded gloves and the referee is prepared for a quick stoppage if someone looks hurt), but Tyson even admitted he’s looking to play it safe by trying to win on the judges’ scorecards.

‘I’m not trying to knock nobody out, but I’m trying to protect myself at all times,’ he told GMA.

Although he has 44 knockouts to his name (like this one in 1986 against Trevor Berbick), Mike Tyson seemed to predict that Saturday’s bout with Jones will end with a judges’ decision 

Tyson was initially approached to do a charity mixed-martial arts exhibition with a fighter named Bob Sapp, but said he was uninterested until promoters offered him a chance to box.

Tyson pictured with his wife, Lakiha Kiki Spicer Tyson, who suggested he hop on the treadmill to lose 100 pounds before Saturday

‘I said I’d box anybody,’ Tyson said.

According to the Brooklyn native, current heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and retired boxer Shannon Briggs were also considered for the exhibition, but ultimately a deal was struck with Jones. (The fight was initially scheduled for September, but was postponed)

Fight fans, and those who are simply fascinated by Tyson, have been calling for his return to the ring since he began posting some sparring videos and footage of himself working the heavy bag on social media.

Jones, meanwhile, has fought competitively as recently as 2018, beating Scott Sigmon by unanimous decision in 2018 at age 49.

Best known as a middleweight and light heavyweight champion in the 1990s and early 2000s, Jones also had some success in the heavyweight division, winning the WBA title from Johnny Ruiz in 2003.

Tyson has not fought since 2005, when he quit on his still against lowly ranked Kevin McBride.  

Roy Jones Jr. (left) is pictured training at his farm near Pensacola, Florida. The 51-year-old has not boxed since 2018, beating Scott Sigmon by unanimous decision in 2018 at age 49

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