Mike Tyson said what Evander Holyfield evidently wanted to hear.
Iron Mike announced during an IG Live session with Haute Living Tuesday that an exhibition with his rival is on for Saturday, May 29. Tyson’s comments come a day after Holyfield’s representatives issued a statement saying talks were stalled.
“I just want everyone to know the fight is on with me and Holyfield,” Tyson said. “Holyfield’s a humble man. I know that. And he’s a man of God. But I’m God’s man.
“Listen, I’m going to be successful May 29.”
Team Holyfield hasn’t responded to the latest development.
On Monday, Holyfield’s handlers issued a news release stating that Tyson rejected a guarantee of $25 million for an exhibition on Memorial Day Weekend at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
“The parties have been in intense negotiations for several months and Team Holyfield sincerely believed a deal was imminent, especially after the Hard Rock threw its support behind the project, and there were multiple other offers conveyed to Team Tyson,” the release read.
“However, Team Tyson’s demands recently became untenable, and not what Mike Tyson had originally agreed on in direct conversations with Holyfield.”
Holyfield’s representatives said Monday that a deal could still be struck but it’s “unlikely that this fight will occur as planned.”
“We thought this was a done deal but it quickly fell apart when Tyson’s people declined all offers,” said Kris Lawrence, Holyfield’s manager. “We were negotiating in good faith all along, and it appears we just ended up wasting our time.”
Tyson didn’t discuss details during the IG Live session or explain what it will take to get the deal finalized.
The meeting would be the third between the two former heavyweight champions. Holyfield knocked out Tyson in 11 rounds in 1996 and Tyson was disqualified in the rematch after twice biting Holyfield’s ear.
Tyson returned to the ring this past November, when he and Roy Jones Jr. engaged in an eight-round exhibition at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The bout ended in an unofficial draw.
