FORMER NHL star Georges Laraque has called out Mike Tyson and claimed a deal is ’75 per cent done’.
Tyson is three weeks away from his first fight in 15 years, as he faces Roy Jones Jr in an eight-round exhibition.
But according to Laraque, an ex-hockey enforcer who had several brawls in his playing days, he will be the next man to fight Iron Mike.
He told 91.9 Sports: “Things are moving forward, things are moving forward very well, on Wednesday I will be able to provide more details.
“We are at about 75% of the way there.”
Canadian Laraque, who stands 6ft 3in, starred in the NHL from 1996–2010 before retiring.
He did make a return in 2015 but it only lasted for two games before he left the sport again.
The 43-year-old has never fought professionally before, but did once grapple with countryman Georges St-Pierre in the UFC legend’s gym.
After Tyson announced shock plans to fight again, he was confronted with several wildcard options ahead of his comeback.
Australian rugby stars, Tyson Fury’s dad and MMA legends were all wanting to fight him.
But Iron Mike insisted he wanted to box a real challenger and chose American great Jones, 51.
They headline in three weeks time, which comes 17 years after talks for Jones – who had just won the heavyweight belt – to face Tyson collapsed.
Iron Mike, who retired in 2005, has dramatically transformed his body after announcing shock plans to return to the ring.
And Tyson’s Brazilian trainer Rafael Cordeiro revealed the pay-per-view spectacle will not be a one off.
Cordeiro said: “He is very happy to do three more fights next year and suddenly fight for great things.”
