TYSON FURY said he recently accepted an offer to fight Mike Tyson despite the 23-year age difference between the pair.
Iron Mike has been back in training and looks set for a mammoth comeback fight.
Tyson Fury claims he has accepted an offer to fight his 54-year-old idol Mike Tyson
The super showdown is believed to be just one of the legend’s return fights after his jaw-dropping return to fitness some 15 years after he announced his retirement.
Fury – who wants to see Tyson take on Holyfield for a third time – told BT Sport: “I did get a phone call with a chance to fight Mike Tyson. I was like ‘what?’
“Yeah, I had a phone call saying ‘would you like to fight Mike Tyson in an exhibition fight?’ I was like ‘hell yeah!’”
Fury later admitted nothing is likely to come of the chat but how would the fighters compare if the historic bout ever came to fruition?
MIKE TYSON
Tyson, 54, retired in 2005 following back to back losses against Danny Williams and then Kevin McBride.
The youngest heavyweight champ of all time was a shadow of himself, so much so in both defeats he sat on the seat of his pants and waited to be counted out.
In his years in retirement, Tyson overcame a battle with substance abuse and depression to become a successful cannabis farm owner as well well as hosting his own popular podcast.
But the reformed Baddest Man on The Planet found the inspiration to start training again, and quickly announced a comeback – insisting he is back to his most destructive self.
He said: “I feel unstoppable now. I feel the same again. The gods of war ignited my ego and want me to go to war again.”
Tyson has spent the last month training under MMA coach Rafael Cordeiro, dramatically transforming his body, and revealed he would need just five more weeks until he could fight again.
It’s clear the legendary puncher stills posses the destructive speed and power that won him the belt aged 20, with recent videos on the pads proving so.
But being fit to train and fit to fight are two completely different things – as explained by the man himself after his final loss.
Tyson said after being stopped against McBride: “I realised, I don’t think I have it anymore. I got the ability to stay in shape, but I don’t have the ability to fight anymore.”
Despite the harsh reality, Tyson is adamant he is in the shape of his life, and ready to turn back the clock.
He explained: “Six weeks of this and I’d be in the best shape I’ve ever dreamed of being in. As a matter of fact, I’m going through that process right now.”
TYSON FURY
In the conversation with BT, Fury, who previously said he would beat Tyson in an amazing cross-era bout, added: “I don’t think anything’s materialised out of it to be honest.
“So yeah I think he’s definitely serious about doing some fights or whatever, but he’s fought Holyfield twice so they’re both old now, so I think they’re a bit long in the teeth.
“But who am I to say anything, what anybody’s capable of? I wouldn’t try and kill anybody’s dreams.
“If they’re both fit to fight, medically fit, then let them do what they want to do. It’s their life not mine.”
Fury, already etched in folklore for his devastating rematch win to dethrone Deontay Wilder, was coy about revealing how he would take on his fellow legend.
He said: “I don’t like to pit myself against boxing heroes in a virtual reality fight, because I find it disrespectful.
“But my answer is that I’ll beat any man born from his mother. I just wouldn’t say that directly about any of the heroes from the past.
“But, deep down, I don’t believe that any fighter from the past can beat me.
“I think I’m the greatest fighter that’s ever lived – from any generation.”
FIGHT BREAKDOWN
Iron Mike says at his explosive peak he felt “invincible” for any time “since the beginning of God” – while unbeaten two-time champ Fury insists he would beat anyone.
And although Fury was unwilling to “directly” talk about taking on one of his “heroes,” Tyson has readily gone into details about tactics if the two icons from different eras could meet in their prime.
The 5ft 10in American believes aggression and mobility would be his main weapons against 6ft 9in Fury – but still names “morale” as the key factor for any fighter.
If Tyson was to come out of retirement and fight for the first time in 15 years, Fury is the exact opponent you would avoid facing.
Clearly Iron Mike still has a degree of his fast hands and power, but he can only put that to use against someone there to be hit – and the Gypsy King is renowned for his masterful defence.
The explosive and educated footwork and pressure Tyson once had in abundance during his prime would be the key to beating Fury – as he explained himself.
Tyson told Ring magazine: “Against someone of Tyson Fury‘s size, you’ve got to be aggressive, move your head and be elusive because if you stand still against a man that size, you’re an easy target.
“You need to attack, use angles and stay away from his punching distance.
“You need to be close, but you can’t stay at a distance that allows the bigger fighter to get off.”
But, knowing what to do and having the ability to pull it off do not go hand in hand, making this a very hard fight for Tyson, who faces a battle to regain his timing and distance in the ring.
Boxing over three or four exhibition rounds does favour Iron Mike, though, as he can afford to empty the tank while not having to worry about the second half of the fight.
And Fury, who has predominately fought over 12 championship rounds while in his prime, will have been used to reserving his energy in the opening stages of the fight.
Meaning should Tyson come out of the blocks fast, and be in distance to let his punches fly, fans could be treated to a real spectacle.
But if Fury can do what he does best by controlling the bout with his expert jab and timing as well as his new found aggression shown against Wilder, Tyson faces a frustrating night, chasing shadows.
