Could we see Tyson-Holyfield III?

By Craig Macleish - San Jose, Costa Rica    
Would you pay to watch fortysomethings Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield fight for a third time? I sure wouldn’t, but amazingly there are reports that a potential third fight between the former heavyweight champs could be in the works.

Tyson, who last fought in 2005 and lost three of his final four bouts, is 43 years old. He looked well overweight in his cameo in the hit movie “The Hangover” but reportedly has lost 40 pounds since then thanks to training for the Italian version of “Dancing With The Stars.” Holyfield is 47 and is still fighting, with a bout against South African Francois Botha set for April 10.

According to Ringside Report, “former promoter Don King has a tentative deal for Tyson to return to the ring in late 2010. The initial plan is to have Tyson-Holyfield III, but there is rumored hesitation on the part of Iron Mike, and there is a plan B.” Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) may opt to tune up first against a lesser-known opponent, which would push any subsequent bouts back into 2011. Some of the tomato cans mentioned for a tune-up bout are Tony Grano, Jean Marc Mormeck, Vinny Maddalone and Derric Rossy. I’ve never heard of one of them.

The two fighters had an epic bout when they first met in 1996, which resulted in a Holyfield knockout victory. The second fight, the following year, was the fight in which Tyson infamously bit off a portion of Holyfield’s ear.

Holyfield and Botha, 41, were scheduled to fight in Uganda in Feb. 20, but the bout was canceled due to lack of financing. Both recently received one-fight licenses from the state of Nevada. Botha holds the heavyweight title for one of the lesser sanctioning bodies, the World Boxing Federation.

Ken Sanders, Holyfield’s manager, shot down recent reports of a possible future bout with Tyson.

“It’s not going to happen, not with [promoter] Don King involved, and I don’t think it’s going to happen, period,” Sanders said. “Nobody has talked to Evander or me. All we heard was Don King wanted to do it, and we wouldn’t do that with him for $50 million. Let me say this: I don’t think Tyson is ever going to fight again. But I wish he would. I think that fight would make a lot of money, but I don’t think that will happen.”

Bet on boxing at WagerWeb.com