Mike Tyson vs Evander Holyfield trilogy fight firming for Sydney
In a world exclusive interview, Evander Holyfield has confirmed a trilogy fight with Mike Tyson in Australia is gaining momentum, while also delivering a knockout blow to Sonny Bill Williams and Paul Gallen.
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He has never heard of Sonny Bill Williams but former world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield has warned former Australian footballers-turned-boxers against confronting returning legend Mike Tyson.
And in a world exclusive one-on-one interview, Holyfield, now 57, talked of his desire to fight an exhibition bout in Sydney — possibly against Tyson now that they have both returned to sparring for probable exhibition fights.
However, Holyfield believes former footy stars Williams, Paul Gallen and Barry Hall should forget about fighting Tyson amid talk of a $1 million payday to take on the man known as “Iron Mike”.
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“I haven’t heard of them but I know the only thing Mike does is hit real hard and they wouldn’t have the skills Mike has,’’ Holyfield said.
“You’ll be damaged if you do (get into the ring with him).
“Mike knows they can’t do it. He can. You don’t just try anything and take a chance. If you fall short, it can kill your confidence.
“Boxing isn’t the easiest sport to suddenly become good at. On this stage, many learn as a kid. There is pressure when you get into that ring.
“I don’t know what has got into Mike’s blood at 53 to want to come back. If Mike knew they could whip him, he wouldn’t do it at all.
“One shot might get him but Mike’s defence is good enough. I understand what is necessary in boxing to be the very best.
“If you get educated at a young age, you learn how to apply to what you’re good at. There are so many people with as much talent who are taught at a young age.”
Perhaps throwing a barb over Tyson’s vicious social media sparring sessions, Holyfield said: “You can make anything look good … the things that you can do. People can make things look anyway they want them to look.”
A devout Christian, Holyfield won 44 of his 57 professional fights, 29 by knockout. He is boxing royalty.
Holyfield sent The Daily Telegraph Christian passages via text for three nights before conducting a 15-minute interview from his US home.
The Daily Telegraph made contact with Holyfield, who is nicknamed “The Real Deal”, through his friend and former Australian triple world champion, Jeff Fenech.
“I am a buddy of Jeff,” Holyfield said. “He was in the Olympics in 1984 as well. He was a tough cookie.”
The odds are slowly firming that Holyfield and Tyson will meet again in an exhibition bout, potentially in Sydney when travel restrictions have been eased. Both have teased fans with vision on social media of their sparring sessions.
Asked about a fight in Sydney, Holyfield said: “If it works, I don’t have a problem fighting (in Sydney). It all depends. I can get you the number of my manager. You can call him.
“I was there for the Olympics (in 2000), and I had a great time when I was there.”
Holyfield has won both his fights against Tyson, the 1997 bout stopped when Tyson bit Holyfield’s ear.
“He has talked to my people (about a possible fight),” Holyfield said. “There hasn’t been a contract or anything like that but it’s coming that way. If the fight happens, no problem.
“People were saying Mike is training and Evander is training, too. Everybody has put two and two together and they are asking. I don’t mind if we do it.
“They want to see me fight three rounds. It’s not a full comeback, they would be exhibition fights.
“I would do it for my foundation (The Holyfield Foundation), to help kids at a young age to get themselves together and find out what they want to do in life.
“Taking care of themselves at a young age will allow them to have a better career when they are older.
“I will be 58 years old this year but I don’t have pain because I took care of my body.
“I’m not coming back into boxing for competitive fights. I know I don’t have the quickness I used to have.
“I remember my last time I fought in 2011. I realised I was sparring a kid who was 18 years old and he was bashing me.
“I found myself getting hit first. I had to be on defence a lot and work out what to do to protect myself and not get hurt.
“I sparred with him for about six weeks, then I went ahead and knocked the guy out. But I knew that was it.
“I had found somebody I didn’t want to fight. I wasn’t angry. I just knew my time was up.”
Tyson’s last competitive fight was in 2005.