LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 28: Mike Tyson enters the ring during Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr. presented by Triller at Staples Center on November 28, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Triller)
If you’re a boxing purist or traditionalist or someone who really cares about the health of the screwed up sport, chances are you weren’t too hyped to see an exhibition match between 54-year-old Mike Tyson and 51-year-old Roy Jones Jr. when there are so many other awesome and consequential fights on the schedule this month.
But only a fool would deny that Iron Mike’s return to the ring this past weekend after a 15-year hiatus didn’t stir up massive interest on the Internet and social media. Purists will rant and rave about the quality of the boxing we saw, the fact that it was just an exhibition match with altered rules, and there was absolutely nothing of serious consequence at stake in the fight. But if sports are really just competition masquerading as entertainment, Tyson delivered and he deserves props for getting into great shape (for his age) and giving casual fight fans something to see.
While we still haven’t seen the final pay-per-view buys for the event and how they stack up compared to other big boxing cards, Tyson’s return has to be deemed a success thanks to all the attention it garnered. If he’s up for more challenges from fellow retired fighters, this past Saturday proved people will pay to see him keep at it and he's likely going to get more opportunities. Now the question is who can the individual formerly known as The Baddest Man on the Planet realistically face next? While there’s one obvious answer, we threw out some hypotheticals for those dying to see more Tyson.
One of the Klitschkos
Ages: Vitali 49 | Wladimir 44
Professional Record: Vitali 45-2, 41 KOs | Wladimir 64-5, 53 KOs
A snowball’s chance in hell for a bunch of reasons. For starters, the brothers are completely out of the boxing game, aside from a few special appearances during a major fight week here and there. Wladimir, who retired in 2017 after back-to-back losses to Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, is now an entrepreneur and founder of Klitschko Ventures. Meanwhile, Vitali, who last fought in 2012, is kind of busy these days serving as the mayor of Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital. Both Klitschkos are way bigger and way younger than Tyson. They stand at 6’6” and 6’7” while Tyson checks in at 5’10”. A height disadvantage never stopped Iron Mike during his heyday, but he ain’t The Baddest Man on the Planet any more. And the Klitschkos have given zero indication they want back into the boxing game.
Daniel Cormier
Age: 41
MMA guys are constantly rumored to be considering offers to cross over and box, especially after Conor McGregor earned a fortune losing to Floyd Mayweather three summers ago. Daniel Cormier is a name that’s been wantonly thrown out there since he just retired from the UFC. Cormier walked away from the sport after losing for a second time to Stipe Miocic this past August. He said he only wanted to fight for championships and the loss to Miocic meant that probably wasn’t going to happen again for the heavyweight. But Cormier is similarly sized (roughly 5’11” and 235 pounds) in comparison to Tyson and if you throw enough money at the 41-year-old, maybe you could coax him into the ring instead of the octagon.
Lennox Lewis
Age: 55
Professional Record: 41-2, 32 KOs
Tyson’s opponent in the last fight of his career that was truly consequential, Lewis knocked out Iron Mike in the 8th round of their mega-match in 2002. Lewis was the last undisputed heavyweight champ—that’s kind of a big deal—but he hasn’t fought since beating Vitali Klitschko in controversial fashion back in 2003. Lewis is now an analyst for FOX’s coverage of Premier Boxing Champions and he seems pretty content to not return to the ring. He recently told BT Sport he never made a comeback because boxing is littered with so many instances of former champs looking feeble upon their return. But he’s not ruling one out completely—just probably not against Tyson. He’d prefer another opponent.
“If it is right, I may come back,” Lewis told BT Sport. “There’s been talk of Riddick Bowe wants to fight me still so there is still some unfinished business there.”
Bernard Hopkins
Age: 55
Professional Record: 55-8, 32 KOs
Maybe. Only because Hopkins was a legend in the ring—part of the International Boxing Hall of Fame’s 2020 induction class who reigned over the middleweight division, including 20 consecutive title defenses—and could conceivably be heavy enough in retirement to step into the ring with Tyson. Iron Mike weighed 220.4 pounds for his match with Jones—slightly lighter than his weight during the tail end of his career. While Hopkins’ day-job revolves around Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, The Executioner isn’t too far removed from his last fight. After 67 professional bouts, Hopkins retired following his 2016 loss to Joe Smith Jr. at light heavyweight.
Evander Holyfield
Age: 58
Professional Record: 44-10-2, 29 KOs
The most obvious opponent for Tyson should Iron Mike want to fight again. They're just going to need to work overtime on the financials. There's obvious history between these two. A few years ago, Complex Sports told you how Tyson-Holyfield II nearly destroyed the sport of boxing. We never got a third installment of the rivalry, but maybe it’s finally time to run it back. While Holyfield is keeping busy these days as a promoter, he’s been training like crazy and telling whoever will listen that he’s interested in a fight with Tyson.
"No more excuses. This is the fight that must happen for both our legacies," Holyfield said in a statement released Tuesday. "Saturday night you said you were ready to fight me, so sign the contract and get in the ring, Tyson. The world is waiting and it's on you now. I'm ready."
As long as Holyfield's price tag is met. Holyfield told the I Am Athlete podcast he wants $25 million to fight Tyson. Iron Mike made $7.5 million for his bout with Jones and reportedly is giving it all to charity. If they can find someone with deep enough pockets in this economy to pay two olds to fight for a third time—albeit 25 years too late—then more power to ‘em.