Evander Holyfield warns old foe Mike Tyson he won’t accept any nonsense in potential boxing return exhibition fight
EVANDER HOLYFIELD has warned Mike Tyson he will retaliate if the Baddest Man on the Planet gets carried away in a comeback fight.
Speculation is mounting the two boxing legends are both set to come out of retirement for an intriguing trilogy fight in aid of charity.
Each veteran has shared clips of them looking in superb condition while training for a potential comeback, with both open to taking on the other in an exhibition match.
They last met infamously in 1997 when Tyson, now 53, was disqualified for biting a chunk of Holyfield’s ear off.
Since then the duo have become close - but Holyfield, 57, has made it clear he will not stand for any nonsense if things start getting out of hand.
Holyfield said: “Mike and I talked once about this (the exhibition) and from that point on his people have spoken to my people.
“We are not at a point where we are at an agreement but there have been conversations.
“There are some big people from different countries who would like for us to do it.
“My whole thing is, ‘Yes, if there is a way we can do it, then do it’.
“Me being me and Mike being who Mike is, I know it could be something big.
“If it could be worked out then there has to be an understanding that there can be none of this other stuff that happens (with Tyson).
“Ain't nobody getting a decision or win or lose or going for knockouts. Exhibition.”
He added: “I didn't really want to get back in the ring because I always said when I stop I will stop.
“I ain't looking for knockouts and I ain't going more than three, three-minute rounds. We do it in an appropriate way.
“But I am going to be in great shape. And if someone thinks they going to hit me, I don't want them to think I ain't going to hit them back.
“I don't know if it will be Mike. If it don't work then it weren't meant to be.”
Whether Holyfield and Tyson meet for a third time remains to be seen, but Shannon Briggs appears to have secured a fight with the former two-time heavyweight champ.
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Briggs, who has not officially retired from the sport despite not having a fight since 2016, says he has agreed terms on an exhibition bout against his fellow Brooklyn native Tyson.
The 48-year-old said: “I just talked to Mike Tyson, it’s going down, me and Mike, we’re going to make it happen, it’s official, you’re going to see it happen, Brownsville versus Brownsville.
“Me and Tyson are going to lace up the gloves, we’re going to rumble, rumble in the jungle. We’re going to let our fist do the talking.”
