The former heavyweight champion, who last faced Roy Jones Jr. in 2020, says he’s still open to competing if the money is right. Mike Tyson isn’t completely done boxing, either.
When we spoke with the boxing superstar about a potential rematch with Jones Jr. this month — who recently suffered a defeat on April 1 to former UFC fighter Anthony Pettis — he didn’t rule out a return to the ring with the Hall of Famer at all.
In fact, the 56-year-old told us, “I could be persuaded.”
Then, when we asked about another possible rematch, one that would pit him against his former rival, Evander Holyfield — Tyson said the same thing.
Iron Mike wouldn’t reveal the dollar figure that it would take to persuade him to agree to future bouts with the boxing legends … though he did say he has been recently approached by people in Saudi Arabia who want “me to do this stuff too.”
“I don’t know,” he said … before adding, “When I see the money people for the end of the product, my mind works clearer. I can’t express myself right now financially.”
Tyson fought Jones Jr. in a wildly successful exhibition match back in 2020. He also fought Holyfield twice in two memorable tilts in 1996 and 1997, but lost both bouts.
Tyson had previously agreed to an exhibition match with Holyfield in 2021, but negotiations fell through.
Tyson certainly made it seem like he could be swayed into rekindling talks … fingers crossed!
Mike Tyson: ‘Iron’ Mike Agrees to Evander Holyfield Trilogy and Roy Jones Jr. Rematch, Under One Condition
Mike Tyson, the legendary boxing icon, has reportedly agreed to a highly anticipated trilogy fight with Evander Holyfield, as well as a rematch with Roy Jones Jr. However, the former champion has made it clear that there is one important condition that must be met before he steps back into the ring.
Mike Tyson will fight Evander Holyfield and Roy Jones Jr. Rematch
Tyson, famously known as “Iron Mike,” revealed in a recent interview that he is open to the idea of fighting Holyfield once again, but only if the price is right. When asked about the potential trilogy fight, Tyson responded, “I don’t know, I’m just chilling out. I did that, you know? I wanted to do that. I did that. And people in Saudi Arabia want me to do that stuff too. I don’t know, um, I could be persuaded. I can be persuaded. How much would it cost?“
It’s clear that Tyson is a shrewd businessman, and he’s not willing to step into the ring without proper compensation. He acknowledged that he needs to speak to the “money people” before making any final decisions, stating, “When the money people for the enterprise, my mind works clear. I can’t express myself clearly now financially, but I see the people when the light she just come on.”
The potential trilogy fight between Tyson and Holyfield has been a topic of discussion for years, and fans have been eagerly anticipating the matchup. The two fighters have a storied history, with Holyfield famously beating Tyson in their second bout in 1997 after Tyson was disqualified for biting Holyfield’s ear.
In addition to the Holyfield fight, Tyson is also open to a rematch with Roy Jones Jr. The two fighters faced off in November 2020 in an exhibition match, with the fight ending in a draw. Tyson has expressed interest in fighting Jones Jr. again, stating, “If the opportunity comes up again, I’ll fight him again. Yeah, I’ll fight him again.”
Tyson’s return to the ring has been a major draw for fans of the sport, and his willingness to fight again is a testament to his enduring legacy as one of the greatest boxers of all time. With the potential for two high-profile fights on the horizon, fans will be eagerly awaiting any updates on Tyson’s plans. One thing is for sure, though – if Iron Mike steps back into the ring, it’s sure to be a spectacle that no one will want to miss.