Tag: Tyson-Holyfield

Riddick Bowe joins list of geezers who want to fight again

Riddick Bowe, 52, said he wants to return to the ring and is targeting Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson.

The list of retired geezers contemplating a comeback of some sort continues to grow.

Now Riddick Bowe, 52, wants in on the action. The former heavyweight champ told The (U.K.) Sun that he likes the idea of fighting again and is targeting old rival Evander Holyfield, 57, and old friend Mike Tyson, 54, both of whom have already announced comeback plans.

Oscar De La Hoya, 47, also said he wants to fight again.

“If the fans want to see me fight again, I’m fighting. I want to make fans happy,” Bowe told The Sun. “Equally, I want to be remembered as one who did everything to truly make boxing great. I want to get out there.

“This is the perfect time, I believe, and I’m very excited to fight again. It’s official. Actually, let me put it this way: I am officially back and want to and will fight. Come on Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield.

“[Tyson and I] went to the same school. We knew each other quite well. We started off fairly close being in the same neighborhood but then went different directions as our boxing developed.

“Of course, we both made it and became the world heavyweight champions. I am very excited I want to fight Mike now. … I will fight him any day of the week, whether it’s an exhibition, or even a pro fight.”

Tyson and Holyfield have made it clear that they intend to take part in charity exhibitions after the coronavirus pandemic subsides. De La Hoya has said he is interested in taking part in a sanctioned fight.

Bowe (43-1, 33 KOs) hasn’t fought since he outpointed journeyman Gene Pukall in 2008 in Germany. He went 2-1 in three fights with Holyfield and never fought Tyson.

Evander Holyfield: Give me Tyson, Bowe, Lewis, not young guys

Evander Holyfield, 57, made it clear that he has no intention of fighting prime young fighters in his return to the ring.

Evander Holyfield, 57, made it clear that he has no intention of fighting prime young fighters in his return to the ring.

The former four-time heavyweight champ, who has said he’s interested in exhibition for charity, seems himself in the ring with former rivals Mike Tyson (53), Riddick Bowe (51) or Lennox Lewis (54).

“It’s better you do it with people who have been around like you,” Holyfield told The Times of London. “I don’t want to go and fight someone trying to make a name for themselves. People want to see me and [Riddick] Bowe, of course, Mike Tyson and maybe Lennox [Lewis], that would be good. I’ll spar with anyone.”

Tyson kicked off all the talk about the legends returning to the ring when he posted a video of himself training and looking fit, after which he declared his intention to “fight” for charity.

Holyfield followed suit by posting his own videos and saying he, too, was coming back.

Some have supported the idea of the legends fighting for charity. Others worry about their welfare. Holyfield suggested that he and his peers will be just fine.

“Look, we are going three rounds. It’s not 10 or 15. Maybe there’ll be headgear,” he said. “My intention is not to knock someone out, but you’ve got 16-ounce gloves and you get good shots in sparring too.”

Roy Jones Jr. vs. Mike Tyson or Evander Holyfield? Jones seems to be ready

Roy Jones Jr., 51, seems to be ready to join Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield as 50-plus-year-old fighters rejoining the active ranks.

Add another 50-plus legend to those who want to take part in old-timers boxing.

Roy Jones Jr., a former four-division titleholder, hinted during an Instagram interview with one of his fighters that he likes the idea of fighting Mike Tyson (53) or Evander Holyfield (57), both of whom have said they plan to return to take part in exhibitions for charity.

The difference between Jones and the two hall of famers, besides age, is that Jones has been active recently. He last fought two years ago, when he outpointed Scott Sigmon. Tyson hasn’t fought since 2005, Holyfield since 2011.

And it sounds as if Jones still has an edge.

“Let me tell you one thing, just so you all know,” Jones said. “I don’t really mess with people too much, I don’t like to bother nobody. I’m getting older, I love trying to pass what I know down to these guys so they can take what I did, what I knew, and try to add and build on to it.

“Chris Eubank, Shady [Gamhour], whole class of them, trying just to pass to them what I know and let them add what I know to what they do. But … I’ve had a few people bothering me lately. I ain’t gonna say a lot of names, but some pretty strong, big guys trying to bully me around.

“I don’t like being bullied. I will fight you. I know I’m 51 but I will fight somebody over 50. And I ain’t scared to fight nobody, nowhere, at no time. Headgear, no headgear, I don’t care. So just be aware, and be careful what you say.”

Jones didn’t provide details about the encounter to which he was referring but he’s obviously ready to lace ’em up.

Jones fought once as a heavyweight, moving up from 175 pounds to 193 to beat John Ruiz and win a heavyweight title in 2003. He went back down to light heavyweight and ultimately to cruiserweight after that but was never the same dominating fighter he had been.

Mike Tyson’s first exhibition opponent won’t be Evander Holyfield

Mike Tyson said he won’t be facing old rival Evander Holyfield in his first exhibition for charity.

Mike Tyson evidently won’t face old rival Evander Holyfield when he returns to boxing in an exhibition. And he made it clear he isn’t doing it for his own gain.

Tyson, 53, has garnered worldwide attention with viral videos of working out and his stated intention of boxing again. Holyfield, 57, soon followed suit, generating speculation that the two might meet a third time.

Tyson told Lil Wayne on his “Young Money Radio” show that he’ll be facing someone else, although he didn’t say who.

“Nah, nah, we got many guys,” Tyson said, dismissing Holyfield as a potential first opponent. “Listen, we’ve got so many guys that want to do this man. We’re in calls, we’re doing business with guys right now. You’re not going to believe the names when the names come out. Some time this week we’ll have the contract done.

“And whatever money we get, it’s going to somebody else. I’m not going to make any money … probably the company, my wife, because she’s partners with me, she’ll make some probably. But my money is going [to charity].”

He went on: “I’m feeling better than I’ve ever felt in my life. God has been merciful to me, man. I’m gonna get on with it, I’m looking good. Yo, Wayne, I’m 230 [pounds] right now! Man I’m just getting ready you know, I’m just getting ready to help some people out who are less fortunate than me. I’m gonna do this charity event.

“I’m going to take this money and help these homeless, and we’re going to help these addicted brothers. Because I’ve been homeless and I’ve been addicted so I know the struggle. Not many people have survived like I did.”

Video: Mannix, Mora: Evander Holyfield wanted to bite Mike Tyson back

Evander Holyfield told DAZN commentator Chris Mannix that he initially wanted to bite Mike Tyson back after Tyson bit his ear in 1997.

Evander Holyfield took the high road when Mike Tyson twice bit his ear in their June 1997 rematch, not retaliating.

That restraint belies his initial instincts, though. Holyfield told DAZN commentator Chris Mannix that he wanted to bite Tyson back but quickly decided against it.

Tyson ultimately was disqualified in the third round and later suspended. His career was never quite the same.

In this episode of Jabs with Mannix and Mora, Mannix and Sergio Mora give their thoughts on Holyfield’s comment and how boxing history would’ve been different had Holyfield responded in kind.

Here’s what they had to say.

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Mike Tyson on bout with Evander Holyfield: ‘Awesome for charity’

Former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson apparently likes the idea of facing rival Evander Holyfield a third time even though they are 53 and 57.

Former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson apparently likes the idea of facing rival Evander Holyfield a third time even though they are 53 and 57, respectively.

And Iron Mike might’ve quashed any notion that they will engage in an actual fight. Tyson hasn’t fought since 2005, Holyfield since 2011.

“That would be awesome for charity,” Tyson said on TMZ Live. “… Can you imagine me and [Holyfield] going in the ring together? … Hey listen, there are a lot of people out there that need help, and something like that could help a lot of people that are in need of help.”

Tyson has repeatedly teased about a comeback in viral videos of him training, which bring back memories of one of the most feared fighters ever. Holyfield, a former two-division titleholder, followed suit with his own video workouts, in which he made it clear he wasn’t finished either.

And Holyfield said specifically that he would be open to facing Tyson in a controlled environment.

“I would do that!” Holyfield told The Sun. “Yes, I want to fight Mike Tyson. My whole thing is I’m open, and I know that I want to do well for myself at age 57. I can definitely handle him. But Mike would have to want to do it as well.

“We have to come up with something that is not a knockout grudge match. It’s not about who can beat who but to show people we were some of the greatest fighters in our era and we’ve come together as men to do something for others.”

So now we wait to see how this unfolds.

WBC President: If Mike Tyson wants to be ranked, ‘we will rank him’

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman acknowledged safety concerns but says he’d rank Mike Tyson if that’s what Iron Mike wants.

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman spoke animatedly about Mike Tyson to an outlet called Stats Perform when he said something curious.

Sulaiman said he would place Tyson in his heavyweight rankings if that’s what Iron Mike wants. Tyson, 53 but feeling good, has announced that he plans to take part in exhibitions to benefit charity but many wonder whether he’ll return to competitive boxing.

Ranking? At 53 years old? After 15 years out of the ring?

“I’m not going to kill the dream,” Sulaiman said. “I’m going to be very supportive of Mike Tyson. He deserves it. If the dream is to say, ‘I will be ranked,’ I am saying yes, we will rank him.”

Now we must be fair. Perhaps Sulaiman got carried away with his enthusiasm for a boxing legend. And he did qualify his statement.

Here is the comment in context:

“He could knock out anyone with one punch, at any time! So of course we will support him. I don’t like to speculate. This is a topic we are all entertained by. An exhibition is one thing; if he comes back, he has to be licensed and has to go through a thorough process.

“I’m not going to kill the dream. I’m going to be very supportive of Mike Tyson, he deserves it. If the dream is to say ‘I will be ranked,’ I am saying yes, we will rank him. Every world champion has a provision that he can come back, like Sugar Ray [Leonard], who was inactive.

“But Tyson’s case is different, he’s been away many years. But I am in full support of Mike Tyson. I believe this will bring entertainment, and he’s doing it for charity. He wants to serve the world in this difficult moment.”

Sulaiman went on: “We need to first understand what it is. I think it’s an exhibition. The safety has to be top priority. It is great to see athletes promoting the sport. Mike Tyson had a very complicated life in boxing.

“Now to see him losing weight, active, healthy, is great, and we have to support him. But we have to see if it is a real fight. I am hearing that it’s an exhibition, and we are fully behind him.”

And, finally: “Don’t watch it, if you don’t like it. I love to see NFL players do reunions, I love to see legends doing something. Why not allow them to do something for charity?

“The only thing we have to be careful about is their safety. Why would we block it otherwise? We offer him our full support.”

So Sulaiman did underscore the importance of safety. He acknowledged Tyson’s time away from boxing. And, of course, if a 53-year-old can demonstrate that he’s perfectly healthy and can compete with younger fighters, it’s difficult to keep him out of the ring.

Evander Holyfield, who also has mentioned a comeback and could face Tyson, fought competitively until 48. And Larry Holmes was still active in his early 50s.

Still, Sulaiman might’ve been wise to take this a step at a time rather than prove his loyalty to Tyson by gushing about him. If Tyson takes part in exhibitions only, then there is no reason to talk about ranking.

And if Tyson decides to take his comeback to the next level, Sulaiman had better be careful how he responds. To rank a fighter because of his name, not necessarily his ability, is a horrible look. And, God forbid, Tyson or another geezer gets seriously hurt in the ring in a huge event.

This is serious stuff. One should be careful about what one says.

Who punched Evander Holyfield hardest? He says it wasn’t Mike Tyson

Evander Holyfield said that George Foreman and Riddick Bowe, not Mike Tyson, punched him hardest.

Evander Holyfield revealed the hardest puncher he ever faced. And it wasn’t Mike Tyson.

Holyfield said in a The 3 Point Conversion interview that George Foreman and three-time opponent Riddick Bowe landed punches that were more punishing than those of Iron Mike in their two fights.

Holyfield defeated 42-year-old Foreman by a unanimous decision in defense of his title in 1991. “The Real Deal” went 1-2 in a classic series with the prime and much bigger Bowe between 1992 and 1995.

Holyfield stopped Tyson to regain the heavyweight title in 1996 and won by disqualification in the rematch the following year after Tyson chewed off a portion of his ear.

“George Foreman hit me with the hardest punch,’ Holyfield said. “But Riddick Bowe hit me more than anybody with big shots. In not winning my first fight with Riddick Bowe, I was kind of inspired by the people saying, … ‘If you hit him (Holyfield), he’s not gonna stop coming.’

“I always remember that was inspiration that I could take something. Everyone was asking, ‘What’s gonna happen if he gets hit by some big guy?’”

He went on: “I guess the first heavyweight fight that was really kinda taxing was when I fought Michael Dokes. But after Michael Dokes, I kinda grew into how to hang with guys who are bigger and had a little bit more experience than I.

“… I remember at one point in time I thought I could never be hurt because it never happened to me. But the first time Bert Cooper caught me with a shot, they gave me my first eight count. Then I realized, ‘Wow.’ When he hit me I didn’t see the shot. All I remember is my legs rubber banding. … But I never got hurt again until I fought Riddick Bowe.

“The art of the game is you only get hit when you do something wrong. So even sometimes you may get by, you do something wrong and the guy didn’t swing, so you’re kinda thankful. Either you’re in a position to hit the guy or the guy is in a position to hit you.

“Either you hit the guy or you move. If you don’t hit the guy and you don’t move, chances are you’ll get blasted. If you miss the guy but you move, the guy tends to miss you.”

Tyson, 53, and Holyfield, 57, have announced their intentions to return to the ring for charity exhibitions. They reportedly are in talks to face one another a third time.

Video: Mannix, Mora: Is Mike Tyson courting disaster?

DAZN commentators Chris Mannix and Sergio Mora discuss whether there is reason for concern about Mike Tyson’s well being.

Mike Tyson says he’s ready to go back to war at 53 years old.

That could mean a series of exhibitions to benefit charity, as the former heavyweight champion has suggested. That might include a third meeting between Iron Mike and former rival Evander Holyfield, who also says he wants to fight for a good cause.

Or Tyson’s comments could mean something else. Perhaps he’s seriously considering a return to competitive boxing.

In this episode of Jabs with Mannix and Mora, DAZN commentators Chris Mannix and Sergio Mora discuss whether there is reason for concern about Tyson’s well being.

Here’s what they had to say.

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Evander Holyfield believes son Evan ‘can be better than me’

Evander Holyfield said 22-year-old son Evan Holyfield can have great success in boxing if he’s willing to put in the work.

Hall of Famer Evander Holyfield said he doesn’t expect 22-year-old son Evan to live up to his legacy but then set the bar high for the younger Holyfield, a promising middleweight.

“Yung Holy” is 4-0 (3 KOs) since turning pro in November.

“Evan does not have to live up to my legacy, he has to live up to his,” Evander Holyfield told BoxingScene. “That’s what I tell him. He can be better than me, but is he willing to pay the price?

“Evan is a very knowledgeable kid. He had choices to do a lot of things. I told him, ‘Boxing is not for everybody.’ He told me, ‘Dad, I love it.’ Boxing is a tough thing to love, and you have to put the time into it. You need a lot of confidence to step into the ring.”

Evan Holyfield reportedly has taken part in only four official amateur boxing matches but he was a Tae Kwon Do champion and, he claims, he has spent much of the past decade as a gym rat.

He has weighed between 154 and 157½ pounds for his four pro fights but, at 6-foot-2, he could end up at 168 or heavier. His father, who is 6-2½, won the light heavyweight bronze medal in the 1984 Olympics and fought as a cruiserweight and heavyweight as a pro. He has talked about returning to boxing for charitable exhibitions at 57, possibly against former rival Mike Tyson.

The younger Holyfield, promoted by Main Events, is trained by Maurice “Termite” Watkins and works with conditioning coach Tim Hallmark, the elder Holyfield’s longtime teammember. Watkins reportedly was hospitalized with the coronavirus for a month.

“I told [Evan], ‘This is the time you have to work when nothing is happening,’” Evander Holyfield said. “When the curtain comes back up, it will be your time to make a leap. Another fighter’s mentality could be that, ‘This is a time to rest.’ As long as you’re in shape, you can take what they do, but you can give it too?”

He went on: “I know the game of boxing. A trainer is like almost being a father. You owe it to them with time. I can walk in there and say, you need to do this, this and this, because I’ve done it my whole life. I didn’t have anything else growing up.

“I didn’t have a dad who was the heavyweight champion of the world. I did not have a mom with a lot of money. I had to really focus. I gave my all to boxing, because that was the only thing I could do without any help.”

Evan Holyfield said his father is always available to him.

“He’s always there for me through advice,” he said. “We talk a lot, and bounce ideas off each other, all the way down to the business of boxing. If he sees something that I need to improve on, he’ll let me know. He tells me that each generation gets better.

“He wants me to be better than him. I’ve been wanting to chase this myself. It wasn’t a decision I made on a whim. Respect is earned, not given. I have to make a name for myself as my career moves along. I’m really cut for this, and actions speak louder than words. I’ve paid my dues.

“I’m not riding on my father’s name. I’m actually working for my own legacy. I want to be the first father and son tandem in the Hall of Fame. I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”