I don’t know Mike Tyson. The 53-year-old former heavyweight champ could have genuine designs on challenging for the heavyweight championship. If nothing else, he could make a fortune by luring a big-name opponent or two into the ring.
But I don’t believe that’s his plan.
Tyson isn’t stupid and he knows boxing. In spite of eye-popping workouts caught on video, one in which he declared “I’m back,” he is well aware that men his age no longer have the speed, the power and – perhaps most important – the reflexes to compete with a prime opponent.
He remembers the helpless feeling of being knocked out a decade and a half ago by journeymen Danny Williams and Kevin McBride, fighters he would’ve annihilated anywhere near his prime. How could he possibly expect to do better against a good heavyweight today?
He couldn’t.
And I don’t believe he’s so desperate financially these days that he’d risk his well being or embarrass himself, which would be inevitable. Yes, most people – even rich ones – would consider taking advantage of the opportunity to make a seven-figure payday or two but they would also consider what they might lose in the process.
It would be like selling your soul to the devil. Tyson has already danced too often with that individual.
Tyson already has received lucrative offers to get back into the ring, including one to take part in a bare-knuckle fight. He hasn’t accepted any of them as of yet as he and his team apparently contemplate how to move forward.
Eddie Hearn said on a British Boxing TV video that someone connected to Tyson reached out to him, presumably to explore the possibility of arranging some sort of event.
The British promoter staged “fights” involving YouTube personalities on otherwise legitimate cards, which irked many in the boxing world. To go another step and promote an actual fight between a 53-year-old and a young, legitimate contender or champion made him pause.
“Is it a bit irresponsible to let a 53-year-old legend get back in the ring?” Hearn asked. “I don’t know. He looks pretty dangerous, but I think it’s just the fascination of could he actually go in at 53 and do some damage in the division? Maybe, maybe not. There’s a fine line, and I’ve crossed it a couple of times, sort of with the integrity of the sport versus entertainment and delivering numbers.
“Our job is to deliver numbers for our broadcasters. But we have to try and keep it as close to the right mark as we possibly can. I don’t know, stranger things have happened. We’ll see.”
Hearn then brought up the money factor.
“Fighters and legends are seeing other fighters make money for fights they think are insignificant,” Hearn said. “Tyson isn’t thinking about wanting to come back to add to my legacy. He’s thinking how much I can get, simple. The answer is quite a lot of money.”
Well, Hearn left out an important point: Tyson doesn’t have to fight Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua or Deontay Wider to generate good money, whether for charity, himself or a combination of both.
Evander Holyfield, 57, said he too would like to get back into the ring to raise money for his own charity. An exhibition between the two former rivals – with strict limitations on intensity – would be fun for the fighters, the fans and benefit good causes. Some half-hearted punches and a fake ear bite would leave everybody happy.
I believe that’s what Tyson has in mind, not a suicidal attempt to regain glory from the distant past. Again, the guy isn’t stupid.