BEVERLY HILLS, March 24, (THEWILL) – Former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world Mike Tyson has responded to claims that his fight with fellow former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield was off the cards, saying, the bout was still going to happen.
This confirmation comes despite Holyfield’s Manager’s announcement on Monday that the bout was off, as reported by THEWILL.
In an Instagram Live session with Haute Living, Tyson clarified: “I just want everybody to know the fight is on with me and Holyfield. Holyfield’s a humble man I know that and he’s a man of God but I’m God’s man. Listen, I’m going to be successful May 29.”
THEWILL recalls that only 24 hours before, Holyfield’s manager, Kris Lawrence, had said in a statement: “Tyson’s people declined all offers,” and that the fight was off.
For several months, both fighters have had their representatives working to organize the fight especially in the aftermath of the widely successful comeback of “Iron Mike” in his impressive exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr. in November.
But, Lawrence said Tyson rejected a $25 million guarantee, which was the sum Holyfield agreed as minimum to get him back in the ring, in November.
According to Tyson, all that was left to bring the fight about, which he seemed quite favourable towards, was overcoming some “small fundamental difference” and “get some paperwork done” to fine-tune the details of the arrangements on both sides in time for the tentative May fight.
The 54-year-old initially did not consider a third boxing contest with Holyfield as a proper next step for his return to active boxing after the fight with Jones, as he did not believe Holyfield’s “business associates” were the best match for him. He went as far as calling out the boxer’s camp and telling reporters “whoever is handling him is totally wrong.”
However, over the weekend, Tyson announced over Instagram that he was cutting off ties with Triller, the promoter of his November fight, and would henceforth work with his “Legends Only League” only.
In the Instagram post, Iron Mike wrote: “I am a partner in Legends Only League and my next event is with my league. I will never do another event or any business with Triller so anyone misrepresenting that they own the rights to my name or my next event isn’t true. I am not with or ever will be with Triller’s Fight Club.”
That affirmation clears the path for their bout. And, when they fight again, it will be the third between the pair of boxing legends and one bout that boxing fans will relish as it promises to reignite one of boxing’s biggest rivalries of all time.
In the previous two fights, Holyfield triumphed against Tyson as the first match resulted in an 11th-round Technical Knockout (TKO) in November 1996, while he got the better of Tyson again when the latter was disqualified in the fourth round for biting Holyfield’s ear, in June the following year.
However, even if he had kept himself fit, the 58-year-old Holyfield has not fought in almost 10 years, while Tyson is months removed from his first bout in more than 15 years. But, Holyfield is upbeat and looking forward to the spectacle. In December, when asked about it, he said: “This is the fight that must happen for both our legacies.”
The event was set for May 29 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida and could possibly still happen on that date and in that venue.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
