Report- Evander Holyfield To Return In June But Not Against Tyson

Former multi-time Heavyweight champion of the world Evander Holyfield will be back in the ring this Summer, however, it won’t be in a third “fight” with Mike Tyson.

This, according to a report by Sports Illustrated Boxing/DAZN boxing insider Chris Mannix.

Mannix wrote Sunday that Holyfield will be part of the Triller fight card June 5th that will feature Undisputed World Lightweight Champ Teofimo Lopez’s mandatory title defense with Australian George Kambosos likely to be held in Miami. Mannix reported the eight round “exhibition” will be against former Heavyweight contender Kevin McBride,

Source: Evander Holyfield (@Holyfield) set to make a ring return https://t.co/qzCD84sGxT

— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) April 11, 2021

Now 58 years old, Holyfield (44-10-2) was last in the ring in May of 2011 and holds the only distinction of having gained the Heavyweight Championship four times in career that saw him defeat the likes of Tyson, Riddick Bowe, and George Foreman.

As we wrote last month, Holyfield had been angling and in discussion for almost a year to have some type of “fight” or exhibition with Tyson, whom he defeated twice in 1996-97. However, that bout never materialized and eventually, Holyfield’s new business manager/spokesman put out a statement saying that Tyson had rejected the deal they were discussing. This, even though they had allegedly been offering “Iron Mike” $25 million to participate.

That last part was met with great skepticism.

This is, because the lauded Tyson return to the ring on Triller Pay per View in an unsanctioned eight round exhibition against Roy Jones in November, reportedly paid the former Undisputed champ Tyson a guaranteed $10 million plus a percentage of the PPV. Jones reportedly got $3 million from their “fight.”

The California Athletic Commission made clear that the Tyson-Jones battle had no real judges, wouldn’t have pre-fight drug testing, and wouldn’t count as an official outcome.

For his part, Tyson made clear last month that he doesn’t have a deal with Triller for future fights. But, Triller and lead executive Ryan Kavanaugh maintain that they have the rights to promote and televise any future Tyson fight/exhibitions for the next three years.

Triller did land the Lopez-Kambosos legitimate Lightweight title showdown with a staggering $6 million purse bid. That was more than double any other bid by Matchroom Boxing or Top Rank Boxing for the bout with the unbeaten champ Lopez, who dethroned Vasyily Lomachenko in a 12 round decision last October.

Back to the Holyfield-McBride proposed exhibition. As Mannix wrote, the 47 year old McBride is the opponent and hasn’t fought professionally since 2011 himself. But, he is best known for beating Tyson by brutal TKO in 2005 that ended Tyson’s career.

Mannix also wrote it will be eight, two minute rounds without headgear.

Holyfield has been living and training in the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area for over 10 years and it makes sense from a marketing standpoint to have their exhibition there.

Further, Florida will welcome fans to the event and could see 10,000 or more at an outdoor venue like Hard Rock Stadium, where four division world champ Canelo Alvarez fought in February.