By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing
Four-time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield has warned Mike Tyson not to throw bombs at him if they have an exhibition fight. “If I ask him it’s almost like me being a bully saying I want to go against somebody I’ve beaten twice,” Holyfield told BBC Sport.
“I don’t want pressure on me that ‘you just want to fight Mike because you know you can beat him.’ If he hits me I’m gonna hit you back, that’s what boxing is really about. I’m gonna be 58, he’ll be 54, you talk about being in good health and doing things the proper way that respects it.
“Anybody that I get in the ring with, if I’m in there with my brother, if he tags me I’m gonna tag him back. If you don’t want me to throw bombs you’d better not throw no bombs.”
I am about 100% sure that it will escalate into hard shot somewhere during the exhibition (if the were to fight) They are both too competitive not too, but I am sure no love will be lost.
Does this mean EMS needs to be on standby?
58yo vs 54yo. I would say that they will absolutely have to have significant medical presence at ringside.
Holyfield was afraid of Tyson’s bombs the 2 fights they had. That’s why Holyfield cheated by hugging and holding and headbutting. He of course didn’t wan to have a slugfest with Tyson, because he knew he’d get KO’ed if he did.
Watch both fights, I would have DQ’ed Holyfield in both fights for too much holding and hugging.
HeavyHitters, nobody , but nobody remembers this and nobody wants to see this. All that is remembered is the ear biting.
Holyfield beat Tyson ass twice and made him find a way out. He will whoop him again if it gets real. Holyfield is just a better all around fighter period. Mike can only fight going forward throwing bombs in the same bob and weave style that is simply not effective against a real counter puncher with the mental fortitude never to be intimidated. Quit crying about it all these years later. Simply accept that Evander is better.
With large quantities of steroids hahhahahhahaha!!!
“Evan Fields” Even Larry Holmes was calling Evander out for being a juice monkey
Now even less people will agree – Tyson was not a dirty fighter by nature – He unfortunately was easily provoked and then would be his own worst enemy and get frustrated and end up doing something stupid.
Come on now, Tyson was always dirty, tried to break Bothas arm for no reason other than botha was hitting him back. Tyson was/is mentally fragile, always has been.
If I remember the fight correctly Tyson was reacting to being held or being pushed into the ropes. Not that this a legit reason.
He kicked the shit out of Tyson who always loved a good arm bar., head butt and punch after the bell.
Large quantities of steroids helped his cause as well.
“Evan Fields” Story by Sports Illustrated exposing him as a PED cheat. Just no real oversight in boxing. Especially then
Man shut the hell up. Mike wanted no part of Holyfield. Evander flat put it on him and Mike took the cowards way out,period.
Throwing Bombs is how Tyson Fights, would he even be able to fight at a high level without throwing bombs?
Agreed, except the bombs will tire him out after the first combo then he will he gassed and get knocked out. It won’t get any better with age.
This would be a 3-5 round exhibition fight at best fight?
One of the most influencing factors to who will ‘win’ is who has retained the most of their tools at their respective ages. Maybe Holyfield has an edge as he was competing more recently (I choose the word competing lightly) but Tyson appears better on the little footage that is on the net. Nobody can say for sure as there are so many questions surrounding this debacle…
Telling Tyson to not throw bombs is like telling a hungry lion to not eat red meat. Tyson will throw some bombs because he is hungry for a high profile return to the main boxing world for a few high paying fights. I hope I am wrong.
Interesting indeed – Holyfield is in better shape than Tyson – If they fought for real Evander would stop him. At first I thought I would have no interest now I want it to happen so I can make a few bets off the mugs backing Tyson.
The fact that the media and some fans are entertaining a 54 and 57 years old heavyweight champions from 25 to 35 years ago shows how bored we are without boxing.
I like both fighters but Holyfield saying no bombs!? He shouldn’t get in the ring knowing they’re both gladiators besides Tyson lost to him and it’s normal for a fighter to try to get revenge. I’m questioning this Holyfield without steroids!
Tyson will outwork him with the hands in the first but then Holyfield will score a takedown the start of the second and his ground control and ground and pound will be too much for Tyson.
I find near impossible that a guy with Tyson’s mentality won’t throw bombs during 4 rounds exhibition. I think better do it for real in just 2 rounds. Any way, how long lasted their last encounter?
And Holyfield has to promise no headbutts.
Neither one of this guys were ever heavy hitters so it should be a soggy affair and I won’t pay to watch it. I’m a boxing expert and have written books on the subject so I know what i’m talking about.
tyson vs briggs!
Hype sells fights now, and this is precisely what Holyfield and Tyson are selling. Both are well past their primes. Neither can come close to what they were in the ring decades ago, except by accident for a few seconds. MONEY is what they both are after. To hype such a matchup, two geezers who are a shell of their former selves, they give a few second clips of workout sessions, feign animosity, then produce a Hopkins-Roy Jones II type of matchup: one that is staged to be seemingly competitive and entertaining, with both agreeing beforehand not to try to hurt each other.
They know that today, hype sells fights even between the most pathetic and mediocre of fighters (eg, Fury, Joshua, and Wilder). They figure their names would yield similar interest so they can make money.
I have no interest in it. Holyfield always bored the hell out of me in the ring. Tyson has long been unable to show that explosiveness and power he once had.