Evander Holyfield has confirmed that he is close to agreeing terms on a fight that would see him come out of retirement to face Mike Tyson.
The pair, who are getting on a bit these days with Holyfield aged 57 and Tyson 53, have both been talking up their returns to the ring of late, but it seems as if a trilogy fight between the two legends is coming slowly into focus.
Holyfield won the first two fights, although – as you might remember – one of them was called off after Tyson bit a piece of Holyfield’s ear off.
This proposed bout would likely be a shorter exhibition fight, possibly with the proceeds being donated to charity.
Holyfield was asked about his comeback, and Tyson, on The 3 Point Conversion and said: “His [Tyson’s] people have been talking to my people and we haven’t yet got a solid deal together but it’s coming that way.
“If it happens, then that’s no problem.
“Well the thing is, he was doing something and I was doing something.
“When I told people about it, they saw me working out and they kind of put two and two together.
“They must be coming together to do this like this.
“But the fact of the matter is, I didn’t mind if we do do something like this.”
Former heavyweight world champion Holyfield – nicknamed ‘The Real Deal’ during his career – said that the idea of fighting ‘Iron’ Mike wasn’t the sole reason that he wanted to lace his gloves up once again.
He continued: “Well the point of the comeback – somebody just made up the names themselves – I’d been telling people that I wanted to start doing exhibitions.
“Meaning that with my foundation, the Holyfield Foundation, I wanted to help the kids.
“I wanted to come back and be able to show the kids that if you take care of your body at a young age, if you don’t get bad habits, you don’t gotta put them down.
“Then at an old age you ain’t got to be worried about what type of person you’re going to be or if somebody going to have to help you.”
Tyson hung up his glove 15 years ago in 2005, whereas Holyfield retired in 2014 after three years out of the ring.
Despite that, both men look in decent nick, and Tyson showed off his prowess on the bag a few weeks ago, suggesting he’s still got the power.
Even in their 50s, it could be an interesting match-up.
