Morning Report: Mike Tyson insists trilogy bout with Evander Holyfield will happen in May

Mike Tyson versus Evander Holyfield III might not be as dead as we thought, at least not according to Tyson.

Earlier this week it was reported that Tyson allegedly declined a $25 million guarantee for a trilogy fight with Holyfield. That report stemmed from Holyfield’s manager Kris Lawrence who said that, following a several month negotiation, talks fell through when they felt that Tyson’s side was not negotiating in good faith. In response, Tyson is denying those claims and says he and Holyfield will face each other one more time, just as soon as they square away a few things with the contract.

“I can see that happening, being in there, me and Holyfield,” Tyson told Haute Living. “The only thing we have to do is get some small, fundamental difference in paperwork done and it’s on to the races with me and Evander.”

Tyson did not go into detail on what the exact blocker was for the trilogy but he did mention a disinterest in working with promoters for the event, citing his long history in the sport and lessons learned as a result.

“I’ve learned so much,” Tyson said. “We don’t need promoters. What’s a promoter? (An) overrated cheerleader? They tell the fighter how great he is, ‘Yeah, you’re the best. You’re gonna beat everybody.’ I like promoters personally but what do you need somebody in that position of business (for)? To dictate your business? Now you’ve got to be nice to this guy, kiss his ass because he’s the boss? No. You shouldn’t have to do that. You should just go get your check and do whatever the hell you want to do and not talk to anybody, right?”

Tyson and Holyfield had a memorable pair of fights in boxing history in the 1990s. The first fought in 1996 in a long-awaited matchup, with both men on comebacks – Holyfield from retirement and Tyson from prison. Holyfield won the bout by 11th round TKO. The two rematched the next year in what became arguably the most infamous fight in boxing history that saw a frustrated Tyson bite Holyfield on the ears twice, one time removing a portion of the ear. The bout was later dubbed “The Bite Fight”. Since then, Holyfield and Tyson have mended fences and are on good terms with one another personally.

Following Tyson’s exhibition bout with Roy Jones Jr. last year, Holyfield publicly showed an interest in a third fight with Tyson. Earlier this year, it was falsely reported that the deal was signed and set for Memorial Day weekend and while obviously nothing is official yet, Tyson remains confident that the fight will go down as planned.

“I just want everybody to know the fight is on with me and Holyfield,” Tyson said. “Holyfield is a humble man, I know that. He’s a man of God but I’m God’s man. Listen, I’m gonna be successful May 29.”

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Signal boost.

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Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow.

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