For some reason, there are people out there who think it’s a good idea to fight Mike Tyson. And at least one challenger is ready to put his money where the former champ’s fist might wind up.
“I think I know what we need to do to make this thing happen,” Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship president David Feldman told Bleacher Report, which reported that the organization is set to offer Mike Tyson more than $20 million to come out of retirement.
The 53-year-old Brooklyn native hasn’t fought in 15 years, but video or recent workouts showing Iron Mike training with the power and speed that once made him the most exciting fighter on Earth has renewed interest in what Tyson might be able to do now.
Tyson concluded one of those videos by throwing a barrage of hooks and uppercuts and saying “I’m back.”
Tyson’s rep told the Daily News on May 12 that the former champ is staying in shape, but has no matches lined up.
The 5-foot-10, 240-pound bruiser said during an interview with rapper TI last month he might lace up the gloves for a good cause. The folks at BKFC trying to bait Tyson reportedly said they plan to sweeten their eight-figure offer to Tyson with charitable donations.
A boxing insider tells The News there have been at least four offers from fighters looking to challenge Tyson. Evander Holyfield, who beat Tyson twice before, said he’d like to get a piece of the fighter who famously bit off his ear in 1997, according to Reuters.
The 57-year-old Holyfield told the BBC Tyson would have to ask for that fight because otherwise it may look like he’s bullying Iron Mike, who’s 0-2 against him.
Tyson’s spokeswoman said she had no knowledge of an offer from BKFC.
Heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, right, speak at a news conference while advisor Donald Trump looks in New York, Tuesday, July 27, 1988 after announcing a settlement between Tyson and his manager, Bill Cayton.
Dr. Takeshi Suzuki, ring physician for the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC), left, examines world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson at the Tokyo Jijeidai Medical College Hospital, Friday, March 11, 1988.
Boxing Promoter Don King, second from right, holds the wrists of the undisputed world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, right, and his challenger Larry Holms as entrepreneur Donald Trump looks on in New York on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 1987.
Boxer Mike Tyson, centre, and Vincent Fuller, right, one of Tyson's attorneys, head towards court, March 7, 1992, for sentencing on Tyson's rape conviction, as a Marion's County sheriff's deputy provides an escort at the City-County Building in Indianapolis.
Canadian professional Wrestler Owen Hart, right, poses with heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson at the Korakuen gym in Tokyo, Japan on Monday, Jan. 29, 1990.
Heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson and his wife, actress Robin Givens, present the Emmy for best costume design for a variety or music program, "Las Vegas: An All Star 75th Anniversary Special," at the 40th annual Emmy Awards in Pasadena, Ca., Sunday night, Aug. 29, 1988.
Rock singer Joan Jett and boxer Mike Tyson pose with guitars in New York, Dec. 29, 1986. The two got together for an In-Fashion Magazine cover.
Actress Robin Givens reacts with embarrassment after receiving a kiss from World Boxing Association and World Boxing council's heavyweight champion Mike Tyson during a press conference in Los Angeles, Wednesday, July 15, 1987 publicizing his upcoming on August 1 bout with International Boxing Federation heavyweight champ Tony Tucker.
Emmanuel Lewis from the ABC-TV series ?Webster? punches the chin of newly crowned WBC heavyweight champion Mike Tyson during a break in taping the show in Los Angeles, (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
European heavyweight champion Steffen Tangstad, left, and heavyweight contender Mike Tyson get together for a friendly meeting during a press conference at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas, Thursday, Sept. 4, 1986.
New York Yankees centerfielder Rickey Henderson, right, talks with leading heavyweight contender Mike Tyson in a front row seat at Yankee Stadium prior to game with the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 1986, New York.
Heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson in the lobby of the Penta Hotel on 7th Ave. at 33rd St. in New York, May 16, 1986 in preparation for his May 20 fight against Mitch Green in Madison Square (AP Photo/G Paul Burnett)
Heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson in February 1986.
Heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson in 1986.
Heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson in February 1986.
Heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and his girlfriend, actress Robin Givens, read the news about his smashing seventh-round knockout fight against Tyrell Biggs, on October 17, 1987, in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Mike Tyson, right, delivers a powerful blow to Trevor Berbick in the second round Saturday night, November 22, 1986, in Las Vegas. Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion shortly after with a TKO.
Boxing promoter Don King lifts new heavyweight champion Mike Tyson after Tyson beat Trevor Berbick in a second round TKO in Las Vegas, Nev., on Nov. 22, 1986. Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion.
Heavyweight contender Mike Tyson flexes his muscles in Las Vegas, Friday, Sept. 5,. 1986 as he weighs in for a Saturday bout with Alfonzo Ratliff. Tyson is from New York, Ratliff from Chicago. Tyson weighed 221¼, with Ratliff at 201.
Mike Tyson (R) fights against heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick (L) to become the youngest heavyweight world champion in history on Nov. 22, 1986 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Defending champ Trevor Berbick (on the mat) tries to collect himself after being sent to the mat for the second and final time by Mike Tyson in the second round at Las Vegas on Nov. 22, 1986. Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champ with a TKO.
Mike Tyson became the youngest heavyweight world champion in history when he defeated Trevor Berbick in the World Boxing Council heavyweight championship by the second round, at the age of 20 years and 4 months.
Boxing promoter Don King lifts new heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in victory after Tyson defeated Trevor Berbick in Las Vegas.
After Mike Tyson defended his crown as heavyweight boxing champion following his victory over Tony Tucker in 1987, he fittingly donned a crown fit for a king during his coronation gala in Las Vegas. Tyson became the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 1978.
Former boxing champion Larry Holmes has never suffered a knockout loss in 75 professional bouts, until he met Mike Tyson in the ring on Jan. 22, 1998. Tyson defeated Holmes by a fourth round KO.
Mike Tyson tied the knot with actress Robin Givens on Feb. 7, 1988, but their marriage only lasted a year. Givens accused the boxer of spousal abuse and mental instability. In a cringeworthy interview with Barbara Walters on 20/20 in 1998, Givens described life with Tyson as "torture, pure hell, worse than anything I could possibly imagine," as the boxer looked on with a calm expression.
A month after the tell-all 20/20 interview with Barbara Walters, Givens announced that she was seeking a divorce from the allegedly abusive Tyson. Here, the former couple are pictured leaving the New York State Supreme Court in July 1999, after a court hearing with Tyson's manager.
While his troubled personal life began to affect his performance in the ring, the boxing champion still came out victorious following his first round knockout of Michael Spinks in Atlantic City on June 26, 1988. Tyson became a lineal champion when he knocked out Spinks in 91 seconds.
In a stunning upset, Mike Tyson lost his titles to underdog James "Buster" Douglas, by knockout in round 10 in Tokyo on Feb. 11, 1990. At the time, Tyson was undefeated and considered to be the best boxer in the world. In commentator Jim Lampley's words, "The biggest upset in the history of heavyweight championship fights."
In 1991, Mike Tyson was arrested for the rape of 18-year-old beauty pageant winner Desiree Washington. A year later, on March 26, 1992, the former boxer was sentenced to six years in prison followed by four years on probation. Tyson however only served three of his six year sentence. He is currently registered as a sex offender under federal law.
Tyson was released on March 25, 1995 (pictured) after serving less than three years of his six year sentence.
Just one month after his release from prison in March of 1995, Tyson is pictured with his then-girlfriend, pediatric resident Monica Turner. The couple later tied the knot on April 1997, but Turner filed for divorce five years later after she discovered Tyson was having an affair. They had two children together, son Amir, and daughter Rayna.
In Tyson's first bout since emerging from prison, the boxer sent Peter McNeeley crashing to the mat at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, defeating McNeeley by knockout 1:29 into the first round. The highly anticipated fight grossed more than US$96 million worldwide, including a United States record $63 million for PPV television.
With his historic defeat of Britain's Frank Bruno in 1996, Tyson made boxing history by joining Floyd Patterson, Muhammad Ali, Tim Witherspoon, Evander Holyfield and George Foreman as one of the only boxers to ever regain a heavyweight championship having lost it. Tyson won the title with a technical knockout in the third round.
Mike Tyson walks away as Bruce Seldon lays on the canvas while the referee gives the mandatory eight count during the WBA Heavyweight Championship bout at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tyson carried the title with a knockout in the first round.
Tyson lost his World Boxing Association heavyweight championship to Evander Holyfield on Nov. 9, 1996 by an 11th round technical knockout.
After Tyson lost his WBC title to Evander Holyfield in 1996, their rematch the following year became one of the most controversial events in modern sports history. Tyson bit part of Holyfield's ear off, which was found on the ring floor after the fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on June 28, 1997. Holyfield won by disqualification after the biting incident. The sum of US$3 million was withheld from Tyson's $30 million purse by the Nevada state boxing commission and his boxing license was rescinded by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
After Tyson's boxing license was reinstated, he returned to the ring to fight South African boxer Francois Botha, which was also fraught with controversy. Tyson allegedly attempted to break Botha's arms during a tie-up, triggering a confrontation during the first round of their heavyweight fight on June 16, 1997. Tyson won the fight by knockdown in the fifth round of a scheduled 10-round bout.
Tyson was sentenced to a year in jail for assaulting two motorists after a traffic accident. Tyson had been taken off antidepressants two days before he became enraged and threw a TV set in a Maryland jail, a source close to the boxer told The Associated Press. Mike Tyson is pictured being led from the Montgomery County Courthouse in Rockville on Feb. 5, 1999.
In 2002, Tyson had another opportunity to fight for a heavyweight championship, jumping into the ring with Lennox Lewis. In what was the highest-grossing event in pay-per-view history at the time, Lewis dominated the fight and knocked out Tyson with a right hook in the eighth round.
In another comeback fight, Tyson faced British boxer Danny Williams on July 30, 2004. Tyson dominated the first two rounds but he was eventually knocked out in the fourth round, marking the former heavyweight champion's fifth career defeat. After the fight, Tyson revealed he had fought on one leg, having torn a ligament in his other knee in the first round. He underwent surgery, but never really recovered from the injury. His manager later revealed he was "unable to throw meaningful right-hand punches since he had a knee injury."
Mike Tyson, who has a long history of run-ins with the law, was arrested in Dec. 2006 for driving under the influence and drug possession. On Nov. 19, 2007 Tyson was sentenced to three years probation and 24 hours in jail for the crime.
Mike Tyson has eight children, including his late daughter Exodus. Tyson is pictured here at the Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2008 for the premiere of "Tyson" with three of his children.
Mike Tyson played himself in the 2009 blockbuster comedy "The Hangover" and reprised his role in the 2011 sequel. In an interview with Yahoo Sports, Tyson later admitted that he only signed on to do the film to fund his drug habit and that he was high on cocaine while filming the flick.
Things turned very tragic for Mike Tyson's family when his four-year-old daughter Exodus was found dead in their Phoenix home on May 26, 2009. Exodus was accidentally strangled by a cord dangling from the treadmill while she was playing at home, and she was found by her seven-year-old brother. Tyson spoke about the horrible incident on Oprah five months later.
Only eleven days after Tyson's daughter Exodus tragically died, he married his longtime girlfriend Kiki Spicer. Spicer was Tyson's third wife and they remain married today. They are pictured here with one of their children, Milan.
Mike Tyson was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame on June 12, 2011. He joined the ranks of other boxing greats including Muhammad Ali, Oscar De La Hoya and Sugar Ray Leonard.
Mike Tyson is currently the star of his own animated comedy, "Mike Tyson Mysteries," on Adult Swim. Tyson's character solves mysteries with the help of an alcoholic pigeon voiced by Norm MacDonald. Tyson is pictured here at Comic-Con International 2014 on July 26, 2014, where he was promoting his show.
