Tyson revives hope of Holyfield clash

Mike Tyson said on the weekend he will face fellow former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield in an exhibition match on May 29 in Miami, Florida－capping the most bizarre trilogy in boxing history.

Tyson's announcement during an Instagram chat with Haute Living came just five days after the 54-year-old reportedly turned down an offer of $25 million to fight Holyfield, who is 58, for the third time.

Holyfield (44-10-2, 29 KOs) won the first two fights, stopping Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) in the 11th round in November 1996, then beating him by a third-round disqualification in June 1997 after Tyson bit both of his ears.

The long-retired Hall of Famers began discussing a third bout after Tyson beat 52-year-old Roy Jones Jr.in an eight-round exhibition last fall that generated more than a million purchases on worldwide pay-per-view.

"I just want to tell people that the fight between Holyfield and I will be done," said Tyson. "Holyfield is a humble guy, I know, he is a man of God, but I am the man of God and I am going to be very successful on the 29th of May. The fight is going to happen; the only thing we have to check is some small fundamental things in the contract."

Tyson also made it clear that if the fight happens, it won't be streamed on the social media platform Triller, which broadcast his bout with Jones.

"Just to be clear, there is no Tyson with Triller fight," he said. "I don't know any Triller executives personally. I don't have a deal with Triller or any head executive representing them for the next event.

"I am a partner in Legends Only League and my next event is with my league. I will never do another event or any business with Triller, so anyone misrepresenting that they own the rights to my name or my next event isn't true. I am not with or ever will be with Triller's Fight Club.

"I've learned that we don't need promoters. What's a promoter anyway? Just an overrated cheerleader. They tell a fighter how great he is, 'he's the best, he's gonna beat everybody'. I like promoters personally, but do you need somebody to dictate your business? No, you shouldn't have to do that, you should be able to go get your check and go do whatever the hell you wanna do and not have to talk to nobody."

Meanwhile, Oscar De La Hoya is the latest retired legend to follow in Tyson's footsteps.

The 48-year-old, who won 11 world titles in six weight divisions from 1992 to 2008, said on Friday he will return to the ring on July 3 against an as-yet-unsigned opponent.

In 2007, De La Hoya dropped a split decision to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in what was the most lucrative boxing match in history at the time, generating more than $150 million. There had been plans for a rematch the following year, but it never materialized due to Mayweather's retirement.

De La Hoya has not fought professionally since his loss to Manny Pacquiao in 2008. He had previously announced plans to return to the ring last August, but without any firm plans beyond wanting to face "any top guy out there".