Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield III? Don’t be shocked if it happens.
Holyfield, 58, told The Sun that he is in talks to meet his 54-year-old rival a third time in an exhibition – 23-plus years after Tyson was disqualified by biting Holyfield’s ear in their second fight.
Tyson faced Roy Jones Jr. in an exhibition on Nov. 28.
“People do what they choose to do and for whatever reason they have, they do it,” Holyfield told The Sun. “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 that my team is talking to Mike’s management, so I’m waiting for a decision. They are communicating right now.
“The thing is I’m still training for this, I know it will be some day this deal will happen, and I’m ready for him. I’m doing OK.”
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Holyfield believes a third fight with Tyson could generate as much as $200 million, at least some of which would go to charity.
“My views are you always help people,” he said. “I try to pass on the goodness that was passed onto me. Where an opportunity is available, I like to make the best out of what I have. I believe if I fought Mike, the fight will generate $200million.
“It will be the biggest fight there is. That’s the honest truth. I think Mike has my message already. If he is going to do it, he is. If not, then he’s not. It’s a decision he has to make now and we both have to be in an agreement.
“I’m not going to tell anybody what I’m going to do – my strategy I’m planning on using against Mike – I don’t want anyone to know. I’m happy if Mike fights me.”
Holyfield stunned Tyson and the boxing world by knocking him out in the 11th round in November 1996. In the rematch, the following June, Holyfield seemed to be controlling the fight when Tyson bit his ear and was DQ’d after the third round.
Holyfield forgave Tyson for his actions not long after the second fight.