Mike Tyson admits interest in facing ‘brilliant’ heavyweights Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury in blockbuster exhibition bouts for charity out of desire to ‘help so many people’
- Mike Tyson will make his return to the ring against Roy Jones Jr later this month
- The 54-year-old is open to taking part in exhibitions to raise money for charity
- Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury were touted as star opponents
- Tyson has stressed that any showdown would solely be to help the less fortunate
Mike Tyson has sensationally admitted he would be open to the idea of facing three of boxing’s heavyweight stars in a series of exhibition bouts for charity.
The 54-year-old will make his long-awaited, albeit controversial, return to the ring against Roy Jones Jr on November 28 and has undertaken a rigorous training regime to build up his physique.
And in a recent interview with BT Sport just days before the showdown, Tyson revealed his sights are firmly set on aiding people who ‘desperately need it’ through raising money in the future.
Mike Tyson says he would be interested in taking on heavyweight stars in exhibition fights
The 54-year-old may face off against the likes of Tyson Fury (above) to raise money for charity
Tyson was once dubbed the ‘baddest man on the planet’, but hasn’t competed since retiring 15 years ago.
The likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder now dominate the division Tyson made his own during his explosive heyday – and the veteran puncher hopes to utilise their popularity for good causes.
‘I think they’re brilliant. They’re brilliant fighters,’ Tyson said. ‘They could do so much for society.
Anthony Joshua (pictured) may be a potential name to take on Tyson in a future exhibition
Deontay Wilder was also touted as another big name that Tyson would be interested in facing
‘They could have exhibitions, and take the money from the exhibitions, because they’re such big crowd pleasers, and they could help so many people.
‘There’s so many people out there that we can do so much for, and it wouldn’t even be a tenth of their charitable heart to do something like that.
‘In fact, fight exhibitions with me, and most of our charity would go to people who desperately need it.’
Tyson has not fought for 15 years and will make his return to the ring against Roy Jones Jr
Tyson is keen to stress, however, that the match-ups would solely be charity-related, and that there is no bad blood between him and the sport’s biggest names.
He added: ‘I want you to label them as exhibitions because there’s no hard feelings.’
Iron Mike has vowed to donate his fight purse for the exhibition with Jones, which will take on a different feel.
The California State Athletic Commission insisted that both fighters faced ‘thorough’ medical examinations and anti-doping tests.
Tyson has shared a series of black and white photos showing the results of his training regime
They will also wear oversized gloves and have been told not to seek a knockout.
But Tyson has stressed that the fight is ‘bigger’ than him and reflected back on his changing lifestyle.
‘It has a charity exponent and I look at that as bigger than me,’ he said. ‘Buying a new car, a new girlfriend, a new mansion, a new plane… that doesn’t do it for me anymore. It just doesn’t work.’