As we reported back in December, former world champions, “Iron” Mike Tyson and Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield are in talks for a trilogy fight.
READ MORE: Evander Holyfield Wants All The Smoke With Mike Tyson
No word on whether the high will be a professional one or an exhibition bout, but given their ages and Tyson’s commitment to his Legends Only League, odds are probably on an exhibition matchup.
Mike Tyson vs Evander Holyfield III could be happening! 🔥 😲 pic.twitter.com/GId7tr8jcv
— Sun Sport (@SunSport) January 11, 2021
Holyfield, 58, told The Sun that talks have begun between the two camps.
“What I can tell you is that my team is talking to Mike’s management, so I’m waiting for a decision. They are communicating right now.
“People do what they choose to do and for whatever reason they have, they do it. The thing is that if it’s meant to be it will happen, either way, it is what it is.”
The two last fought in 1997, one year after their first fight in 1996. Holyfield bested Tyson in a WBA heavyweight title fight in the first installment.
📝 Evander Holyfield has tonight issued this statement, officially calling out Mike Tyson for a trilogy: "Sign the contract and get in the ring, Tyson. The world is waiting and it's on you now. I'm ready."
⏰ Tyson (54 years old) and Holyfield (58 years old) last fought in 1997. pic.twitter.com/895HV5uCGh
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) December 1, 2020
However, Tyson was disqualified in the rematch after the bite felt around the world when he took a piece of Holyfield’s ear in the rematch.
Tyson, 54, most recently fought Roy Jones, Jr., in December 2020 in a highly anticipated exhibition match.
READ MORE: The Life & Legacies Of Mike Tyson & Roy Jones Jr: A Tale Of The Tape
“The thing is I’m still training for this, ” said Holyfield. “I know it will be someday, this deal will happen and I’m ready for him. I’m doing OK.”
Back on December 1st, 2020, Holyfield went on the offensive releasing a statement after the Tyson vs. Jones fight.
Mike Tyson opens as a slight favourite in a potential exhibition fight with Evander Holyfield:
Mike Tyson -130 (10/13)
Evander Holyfield EVEN (1/1)(odds via @betonline_ag) 🥊 pic.twitter.com/i24iNdXlIF
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) December 7, 2020
Holyfield says he was confused when Mike Tyson chose to face Roy Jones Jr. and not him for his Exhibition-bout come back.
“My side tried to make the fight happen and we got nothing but excuses,” said Holyfield. “Now I can see why he wanted a tune-up fight before thinking about fighting me.”
“The Real Deal,” feels the idea of an exhibition bout was his.
Still in “supreme physical condition” in his 50s, and training in the gym for months, Holyfield feels Tyson took a practice run against Jones, but there is only one fight the world wants to see.
On this date in 1996, Evander Holyfield beat Mike Tyson thanks to an 11th-round technical knockout in their heavyweight title fight.
Their second fight had a different finish… pic.twitter.com/S5lDuSLlqs
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 9, 2020
“Roy Jones was a good local opponent for Mike,” said the unimpressed Holyfield. “But a fight with me would be a global event and the only fight that anyone wants to see is a fight between us. There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t make it happen.”
