Mike Tyson has become a very transparent athlete. He’s not blowing figurative smoke – but literal smoke? That’s another story.

“Listen, I can’t stop smoking,” Tyson said, admitting in his post-fight news conference that he had smoked weed before fighting Roy Jones Jr. on Saturday in Los Angeles. “I smoked during fights. I just have to smoke, I’m sorry. I’m a smoker. … I smoke every day. I never stopped smoking.”

Bad Left Hook reported that Weedmaps, which publishes marijuana dispensary menus and locations, was prominent on the broadcast. Its name was in the ring, on the screen and in the locker room.

Marijuana was not on the pre-fight list of banned performance-enhancing drugs, so Tyson was in the clear for his eight-round boxing exhibition that ended in a draw, and neither fighter was tested for cannabis, according to Fox Sports.

As for the more legitimate, competitive sports, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency still has marijuana on its restricted list.

Even if he could be described as stoned, the former heavyweight champion, 54, appeared the stronger of the two fighters.

From a CBS Sports recap:

“Tyson far exceeded expectations with his stamina. … Tyson hadn’t boxed professionally since 2005 and Jones retired just two years ago.

“But even more than his performance, hearing the humility and joy in Tyson’s voice during the post-fight interview proved to be an unexpectedly genuine moment. This was obviously cathartic for Tyson to return to the ring in such a positive manner and make a difference in doing so by donating his check (he made a guaranteed $1 million, per the California State Athletic Commission) to charity. … Tyson talked up how great it felt to be a humanitarian.”

No doubt Tyson will keep doing the things that make him feel good.

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