Fijivillage
NEWS SPORTS IN DEPTH
19 April, 2026, 4:18 am
Central - 23°C Rain
IN DEPTH
19 April, 2026, 4:18 am Central - 23°C Rain

Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield prepared to face former rival Mike Tyson

Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield prepared to face former rival Mike Tyson

By Semi Turaga
26/05/2020
Evander Holyfield raises his fist after defeating Mike Tyson in their WBA heavyweight championship bout at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas in 1996. [Image: TVNZ]

Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield has confirmed he is prepared to face former rival Mike Tyson in a trilogy fight for charity – but there’s a catch.

Tyson who is now 53 and Holyfield who is now 57 faced off in two epic bouts throughout their professional careers with the 1997 fight remembered for ‘Iron Mike’ biting a chunk off of his rival’s ear.

However, Holyfield came out on top both times, which is why he’s only willing to agree to a third bout if Tyson is the one who asks for it to be set up.

Holyfield told the BBC "If I ask him it's almost like me being a bully saying I want to go against somebody I've beaten twice,"

He says "I don't want pressure on me that, 'You just want to fight Mike because you know you can beat him.'

Holyfield adds "If he hits me, I'm going to hit back. I'm going to be 58, he'll be 54. You talk about being in good health and doing things the proper way that respects it. I don't have no problem with it."

Tyson has made headlines in recent weeks after releasing several training videos showing the amazing shape he is in, fuelling speculation he could be returning to the ring.

Holyfield then went and added to the situation when he announced his return for a charity bout on Instagram earlier this month.

Tyson, the first heavyweight to hold the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles, retired after a loss to Kevin McBride in 2005, while Holyfield called time on his career nine years later.

If they do return, they will be following in the footsteps of Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao in coming out of retirement for an exhibition fight.

TVNZ

FNRL
FEATURE NEWS
Vakarisi dead, 3 released and evidence of unauthorized weapons outside RFMF's inventory - Commander
Druglord, Jone Vakarisi has died in military custody, 3 other associates have been released after questioning, 1 Republic of Fiji Military Forces pers...
15 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Hong Kong 7s: Fijiana go down 45-5 to Australia
The Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s side went down 45-5 to Australia in their quarterfinal at the Hong Kong 7s.The Levi sisters, Maddison and Teagan, scored ...
2 hours ago

Hong Kong 7s: Fiji goes down fighting 17-24 to Argentina
The Fiji Airways Men's National 7s team has gone down fighting 17-24 to Argentina in the last quarterfinal at the Hong Kong 7s.Indiscipline cost the ...
3 hours ago

Hong Kong 7s: Fijiana to play Australia at 11.42 tonight in Cup quarterfinal
The Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s side will take on Australia at 11.42 tonight in the last Cup quarterfinal at the Hong Kong 7s.In other quarterfinals, ...
9 hours ago

Hong Kong 7s: Fiji will meet Argentina in last quarterfinal at 12.28am tomorrow
The Fiji Airways Men's National 7s side will meet Argentina in the last Cup quarterfinal at 12.28am tomorrow.In other quarterfinals, France plays New ...
9 hours ago

Motorcyclists raise safety concerns after taxi tailgating video on social media
Concerns have been raised over biker safety after a video showed a taxi driver tailgating a motorcyclist and nearly causing an accident. Executive ...
10 hours ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Ratu Epeli Nailatikau's State Funeral
Ratu Epeli was a highly respected Fijian chief and a people’s President as many would remember him on many occasions walking on the streets of Suva ...
3 days ago

TC Vaianu Coverage
The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) is urging the public to remain alert, prepared, and watch out for one another as Tropical Cyclone ...
10 days ago

Citizens to oppose proposed TNG Waste-to-Energy incinerator in Saweni, Vuda
Serious concerns are being raised regarding a proposed Australian company's TNG Waste-to-Energy incinerator in Saweni, Vuda, and a group of concerned ...
10 days ago

TOP