Mike Tyson’s three-word response when asked about fighting again after Jake Paul
Mike Tyson is gearing up for his return to the ring next month when he takes on Jake Paul, and the former heavyweight champion has not ruled out further bouts in the future
Mike Tyson has hinted at a potential return to the boxing ring after his upcoming bout with Jake Paul.
Despite not having fought professionally since his 2005 defeat to Kevin McBride, the former WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight champion is gearing up for a major comeback against YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul on November 15.
The anticipated match-up will see Tyson, who boasts a record of 50-6-2(NC), face off against the “Problem Child,” who has an impressive 10-1 record since his professional debut in 2020. While some fans fear that Paul’s youth and athleticism may be too much for Tyson, the 58-year-old is eager to showcase his skills at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has controversially labeled the fight a “freak show” that “not one boxing person” wants to watch, but Tyson seems to be relishing the opportunity for a late-career revival. Speaking at a press conference in May, he said: “Hey, this has been pretty fun. Maybe we’ll do it again, yeah.”
But he was quick to dismiss any specific future opponents, adding: “Can I take care of Jake first, please?” However, Tyson has previously mentioned that there are certain historic fights he might want to revisit, as well as several current stars he might want to challenge.
In a 2020 interview with Fox Sports, Mike Tyson expressed his openness to the idea of a trilogy fight with Evander Holyfield, saying: “Absolutely. Holyfield, Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder.”
But when pressed on whether he’d seriously compete for a heavyweight world title at his age, he clarified: “Hell no, I’m talking about exhibitions, man. Helping people and stuff, that’s bigger than a title. The title’s nothing man, it’s not even real gold – it’s tin and metal.”
Tyson is well-remembered for losing his WBA title to Holyfield in November 1996 after an 11th-round TKO defeat. Their subsequent rematch in 1997 was notorious, ending with Tyson being disqualified for biting off a piece of Holyfield’s ear.
Although Tyson has since participated in two exhibition matches against Mitt Romney and Vitor Belfort, a more laid-back match-up with Holyfield hasn’t progressed beyond their 2020 discussion. Roy Jones Jr also toyed with the idea of a rematch with Tyson after their 2020 exhibition match dubbed “Lockdown Knockdown.”
The two titans clashed in an intense eight-round battle at the Staples Centre back in November 2020, with neither able to clinch victory, as declared a draw by the WBC. While Tyson seemed satisfied with the result, Jones Jr expressed his feelings to BT Sports Box Office: “I don’t do draws man, but I understand why they say certain things are buckets lists, because when he hits you, if it’s his head, his punches, his body shots, it don’t matter.
