Evander Holyfield Says 200 Million Dollar Mike Tyson Trilogy Bout Is In The Works
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
The third trilogy bout of the century, be in an exhibition or for real, is apparently in the works for later in 2021. Evander “Real Deal” Holyfield, the former world heavyweight champion, is training for an anticipated rematch with former world heavyweight champion “Iron” Mike Tyson later this year.
Holyfield, age 58, 44-10-2 with 29 knockouts, Atlanta, Georgia, and Tyson, age 54, 50-6-2 with 44 knockouts, Henderson, Nevada, last fought their first bout on November 9, 1996, when Holyfield stopped Tyson in the eleventh round after knocking him down in the sixth round (the referee was Mitch Halpern). The second bout for Holyfield’s World Boxing Association World Heavyweight title on June 28, 1997. Tyson was disqualified at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas in the third round by referee Mills Lane for biting Holyfield’s ears, losing two points, then getting disqualified for biting off a chunk of Holyfield’s right ear. The controversy triggered a riot. It is one issue to hate the current heavyweight champion. Tyson instead ate the heavyweight champion, or at least a part of him, in the first heavyweight title disqualification since World Heavyweight champion Jack Sharkey was disqualified for hitting Max Schmeling below the belt at Yankee Stadium in 1930.
The Tyson-Holyfield III rivalry is 24 years removed, but in these very strange times for staging sporting events without spectators, by and large, the matchup is goofy enough to sell on pay-per-view at a higher rate than the upcoming Floyd Mayweather versus Logan Paul exhibition. Holyfield told the British Sun newspaper “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. What I can tell you is my team (Team Holyfield) is talking to Mike’s management (Mike Tyson’s Legends Only League) so I’m waiting for a decision. They are communicating (with my team) right now. The thing is I’m still (now actively) training for this. I know it will be someday (in the near future). This deal (for the Tyson-Holyfield trilogy bout in 2021) will happen, and I’m ready for him. I’m doing okay.”
The gross in their second bout in Las Vegas was 100 million dollars. Undoubtedly, the chance to doubt that in the third rubber match is quite an enticement. Holyfield fought Riddick Bowe three times. Muhammad Ali fought Smokin’ Joe Frazier three times. Floyd Patterson fought Ingemar Johansson three times. Tyson Fury might fight Deontay Wilder a third time in 2021. World heavyweight championship trilogies are extremely rare in boxing history. The timing for Tyson versus Holyfield III is partially a sign of the times, more so a symbol of the fact Tyson still must confront what he did to Holyfield in 1996 while there is still time for him to achieve a better performance. Holyfield’s third visit to Tyson in the ring, if it occurs in whatever form, will not be a social call, so Tyson needs to be ready to do battle with a most dangerous and motivated adversary.
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