Advertisement

Rick Zamperin: Mike Tyson versus Evander Holyfield needs to happen

Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson is reportedly contemplating a return to the ring. AP Photo/Marlene Karas, File

It appears that former heavyweight boxing champions Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield are going to come out of retirement.

Now, nothing has been confirmed at this time, and all we have to go on is a couple of promotional-type videos that each former champ has thrown on social media over the last couple of days.

“Iron Mike,” the first heavyweight to hold the WBA, WBC and IBF titles, released a training video on Instagram on Monday that featured him ferociously punching away and he ended the barrage with the message, “I’m back.”

Story continues below advertisement

Holyfield announced on Instagram last week that he was returning to the ring for a charity bout, and doubled-down in a Twitter post on Tuesday when he ended his own slick-looking training video with the words, “I’m back.”

So, if we connect the dots here, are we to expect Tyson-Holyfield III?

Breaking news from Canada and around the world sent to your email, as it happens.

Holyfield won their previous two engagements, including a controversial 1997 fight when Tyson bit off a chunk of Holyfield’s ear.

Tyson is 53, Holyfield is 57, and I love the thought of seeing these two boxing legends meet for a third time in the ring.

Story continues below advertisement

Let’s not kid ourselves, these two heavyweights are nowhere near the fighters they were in their heyday but because the COVID-19 pandemic has postponed the entire sports world, this bout can’t come soon enough.

Sponsored content

AdChoices