Boxing legend Mike Tyson is preparing to face Jake Paul in his comeback fight – but could also face old foe Evander Holyfield in the future
Boxing legend Mike Tyson is preparing to face Jake Paul in his comeback fight – but could also face old foe Evander Holyfield in the future Boxing legend Mike Tyson is preparing to face Jake Paul in his comeback fight – but could also face old foe Evander Holyfield in the future
Mike Tyson could be in line for a sensational rematch with Evander Holyfield as the boxing legend prepares for his comeback.
Tyson, 58, is set to face YouTube star Jake Paul in his first professional fight since 2005. The controversial bout is scheduled for November 15 and will air live on Netflix, with up to 90,000 fans at the AT&T Stadium.
Paul, 27, has built a 10-1 boxing record against a range of influencers and MMA stars, while Tyson was last seen lacing up his gloves against Roy Jones Jr in their 2020 exhibition match. However, Tyson’s decision to step back into the ring seems to have tempted Holyfield to do the same.
The boxing icons were at the centre of an infamous heavyweight rivalry, culminating in Tyson notoriously biting off part of Holyfield’s ear in their 1997 rematch for the WBA title. A trilogy bout never transpired, but ‘the Real Deal’ is seemingly keen to follow in Tyson’s footsteps, which could lead to one of the sport’s most unlikely rematches.
In an interview with talkSPORT, Misfits boxing co-president Mams Taylor admitted that Holyfield had sounded out the possibility of facing KSI (4-1). The YouTube star has been a pioneer of influencer boxing, known for his bouts with Logan Paul and Tommy Fury, but his Misfits promotion turned down a fight with the 62-year-old.
“I know Holyfield contacted us about fighting KSI,” Taylor said. “Again, we wouldn’t do that. It needs to be two evenly-matched fighters at an even age. If it was Mike Tyson or Evander Holyfield for all the money in the world we wouldn’t do that. I think it’s ironic because the cornerstone of Misfits Boxing is on a higher moral ground than some parts of traditional boxing.”
Misfits may not be interested in helping Holyfield get back into the ring but his clashes with Tyson created a rivalry that transcended boxing. Holyfield secured an 11th-round TKO win over Tyson in 1996 but their rematch became known as the Bite Fight after ‘Iron Mike’ was disqualified in the third round for taking a chunk out of his opponent’s ear.
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Mike Tyson (L) and Evander Holyfield (R) have both discussed a rematch in recent years
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Image:
Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)
Tyson has refused to rule out the idea of another fight after taking on Paul and was even enthusiastic about facing Holyfield back in 2020. Meanwhile, Holyfield admitted to being open to facing Tyson in an exhibition as recently as last year.
“Well, if we do fine. My whole thing is it’s not all about me, it’s about both of us,” Holyfield told The Sun. “We do it, make some money that we probably wouldn’t be able to make, so the big thing is finding something that we both can do that we understand that it’s not a fight. It’s showing some kind skills, showing skills but it’s not a real fight. We’re not trying to kill each other.”
Tyson has not been short of offers from other other veterans since agreeing to take on Paul. Heavyweight icon Butterbean has been vocal about wanting to face ‘Iron Mike’, while former undisputed champion Lennox Lewis is willing to rematch Tyson if he can clinch victory next month.
Mirror – Sport
