Holyfield, Tyson set for third bout 23 years after

Evander Holyfield has suggested that an exhibition fight with Mike Tyson could be in the offing 23 years after he lost a chunk of his ear to the 53-year-old former heavyweight champion. “When people look at me, I know they are looking at my ear. People think I got the whole ear bit off”, Holyfield said. “People don’t understand the relationship I have with Tyson.

“Tyson and I were both on the losing squad trying to make the Olympic team in 1984, that tells you how tough amateur boxing was in my day. “When Tyson became heavyweight champion of the world, it made me realise that I could do it.

“Tyson and I had sparred and he was a tough guy even back then, when he was 17 and I was 21.” Holyfield said he would fight in exhibition matches to raise support for Unite4OurFight, which helps learning and emotional development projects aimed at children whose schooling was disrupted by the deadly virus outbreak. READ ALSO: Mike Tyson would have beaten Ali, says Joshua “Are you ready? The moment you’ve all been waiting for… The Champ is back!” Holyfield posted on Twitter. “I’d like to announce that I will be making a comeback to the ring. I will be fighting in exhibition matches for a great cause.” Are you ready?

The moment you’ve all been waiting for… The Champ is back! I’d like to announce that I will be making a comeback to the ring. I will be fighting in exhibition matches for a great cause: #Unite4OurFight. Learn more: https://t.co/dfSo0HvV2O pic.twitter.com/8PfrzalHty — Evander Holyfield (@holyfield) May 6, 2020 Holyfield’s move comes after Tyson, 53, was shown training and saying he wanted to make a charity comeback in exhibition bouts. Holyfield has not fought since stopping Danish fighter Brian Nielsen in the 10th round at Copenhagen in 2011, improving his record to 44-10 with two drawn. He last owned one of the three major heavyweight crowns in early 2001 after beating John Ruiz for the World Boxing Association title in August 2000. Holyfield stopped Mike Tyson in the 11th round in 1996 to win the WBA title and then won a 1997 rematch when Tyson was disqualified for biting.

Two of Holyfield’s other biggest fights came in 1999 when he fought a controversial draw with Lennox Lewis in New York for the undisputed heavyweight crown, then lost to the British star by unanimous decision eight months later in Las Vegas. “My name was made on fighting,” Holyfield said on the charity’s website. “It’s time I bring that fighter out with the man I have always been. It’s time to step up as citizens need help like never before.” Vanguard