Evander Holyfield, the legendary former heavyweight boxing champion known for having his ear bitten by Mike Tyson, has confidently revealed his strategy to achieve a “hat-trick” of victories against his rival, the “Iron Mike.”
One of the most exciting and storied rivalries in heavyweight boxing history is the clash between champions Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield. Tyson, during his prime, defeated many formidable opponents, but he always faced significant challenges when pitted against his compatriot Holyfield.
Tyson has lost both previous encounters with Holyfield. The first bout took place on November 9, 1996, at the renowned MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada. Tyson lost by knockout in the penultimate round (round 11 of 12) and surrendered his WBA heavyweight title to Holyfield.
Their rematch at the same venue on June 28, 1997, ended controversially when Tyson was disqualified for biting off a part of Holyfield’s ear.
Now, both legends are well past their prime, with Tyson at 53 and Holyfield at 57, having retired long ago. However, they are currently in talks and training for an exhibition match possibly set to take place in the Middle East in November 2020. Both fighters have confirmed that all proceeds from this bout will be donated to charity to support communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a recent interview with BBC, Holyfield confidently outlined his strategy to secure a third consecutive victory over Tyson:
“I always like to move forward. People often think I will run around the ring to avoid Mike’s punches, but I want him to know I won’t be going anywhere, that’s a promise. I believe my hands are faster, and my reach is longer than his. I’ve landed punches on him before, but when you start hitting an opponent, they begin to change. I’ve been hit many times by powerful punches, but I can take it. The problem with Mike is that he’s not used to being hit because people are scared to fight him. But I’m not scared. I know he will hit me, but I also have the right to hit him back.”
“Mike will realize he has chosen the wrong opponent this time because fighting me will be extremely tough for him. I have decided that I will be the one delivering the decisive blow, and when Mike is cornered, I want him to feel the agony as I continuously land punches on him.”
“I don’t want to dwell on how Mike’s punches will trouble me. I know it’s part of the strategy; you must push him back and land heavy punches. Mike likes hitting others’ bodies but doesn’t like getting hit on his. I know that what people do to others, they don’t like happening to themselves. When I punch Mike, I know it will slow him down.”
Holyfield hasn’t fought professionally since 2011, when he defeated Danish opponent Brian Nielsen. To prepare for his third match against Tyson, Holyfield has enlisted the help of former world boxing champions Wladimir Klitschko and Antonio Tarver to regain his form in training. Tyson, on the other hand, has been back in the boxing gym for the past two months, despite having retired 15 years ago.
