When Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield posted training videos and said they’re returning to boxing for charity earlier this month, talk of a third fight between them came instantly. That excitement only seemed to swell when Holyfield said he’d be open to fighting Iron Mike.
Tyson, who’s 53, also stated that he’d be willing to step into the ring with Holyfield again and believes a showdown between them would help a lot of people in need.
“I’m just having fun, looking good. Showing off my new bod and stuff. Anything is possible,” he told TMZ in an interview shared on their site Thursday, May 21. “My ego is starting to get elated and stuff that I’m capable of doing things, but we’ll see, right?”
“There’s a lot of people out there that need help, and something like that could help a lot of people that’s in need for help. A lot of money for charity … and that’s just basically what I pretty much embarked on, is just a life of charity and gratitude,” Tyson added.
He then said fighting Holyfield for a third time and giving the money to those in need would be unprecedented.
“I don’t know if me and Evander ever going to get in the ring. … That would be awesome for charity too,” he stated. “Can you imagine that me and him going in the ring together, archenemies — quote-unquote, so to say — doing it for the humanity of people and people less fortunate than ourselves? What would that be like?”
“That is something that has never been done with any entertainer or any sports figure in the history of entertainment and sports,” Tyson explained.
The latest training video that he posted landed on his Instagram page May 11, which showed some of the hand speed and punching power that gave the New York City native 44 knockouts in his professional career.
When Holyfield spoke to TMZ earlier this month, he revealed that talks are already underway for a third Tyson fight.
“You know, even though I’m four years older than him, [it] wouldn’t be no problem,” said Holyfield, who’s 57. “My manager, they’ve been talking and all that.”
The two men fought in 1996 and 1997. Holyfield was victorious both times, with Tyson being disqualified for biting Holyfield’s ear in the second bout.
Holyfield posted his latest workout video on Thursday, May 21, after Tyson’s interview surfaced. It shows him hitting the mitts with plenty of force, doing cardio, and training with a large chain around his neck.
“Team Holyfield preparing for battle🥊,” he wrote in the caption.
