Evander Holyfield still wants Mike Tyson boxing trilogy fight despite his ‘sad’ first round TKO loss to Vitor Belfort
EVANDER HOLYFIELD insists he is still open to a trilogy fight with Mike Tyson despite his first round loss to Vitor Belfort.
The 58-year-old was stopped within three minutes of his return to the ring in a clash one fan described as 'the saddest event I have ever seen in a boxing ring'.
Yet despite his embarrassing loss to Belfort, Holyfield insists he would still fight Mike Tyson for a third time, 24 years after their second bout.
Speaking after his defeat to Belfort, Holyfield said: “The guy pushed me, the guy is strong.
“But I wasn’t hurt. There wasn’t no shot that hurt me real bad. He got me with a shot and I was off-balance. I’m not hurt. It’s kind of sad.
“I think it was a bad call, he shouldn’t have stopped the fight that quick.”
When asked whether he would still fight Tyson, he then added: “Of course I would.”
Holyfield fought Tyson twice in the 1990s and came out on top on both occasions.
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The Real Deal stopped Tyson in their first fight in Las Vegas back in November 1996.
And he then defeated him again seven months later, albeit in much more controversial circumstances.
Tyson infamously bit Holyfield's ear, resulting in a third round disqualification.
Former heavyweight champion Tyson recently returned to the ring in a bout against fellow boxing legend Roy Jones Jr.
The bout ended in a draw, but many were still impressed by the skills Tyson showed.