Fox Sports AU
Despite a humiliating loss to mediocre Irish giant Kevin McBride in Washington on June 11, Tyson, 39, still believes he has the punching power to remain a major attraction in heavyweight boxing in a series of four-round fights.
His trainer Jeff Fenech will fly to Phoenix, Arizona, today to continue negotiations for a tournament featuring Tyson in a series of abbreviated bouts against the likes of Holyfield and another former heavyweight champ Riddick Bowe.
It would be boxing's equivalent of cricket's limited overs format or the new Twenty20 game.
Fenech says there has already been interest in the tournament from promoters in Las Vegas and Dubai.
"Mike does not want to go out of boxing as a loser against Kevin McBride," Fenech said.
"He is one of the greatest heavyweight champions of all time and is still explosive for four rounds.
"He doesn't want to compete in 10- round fights because after 20 years as a big-name fighter it is hard to keep backing up in the gym.
"But physically he remains rock solid and very strong and believes he can still thrill fans with the style that made him the youngest ever heavyweight champ in 1986."
Against McBride, Tyson lost two points for a head-butt, tried to break the Irishman's arm in a clinch and locked his teeth around McBride's nipple. But he was still ahead on points when Fenech retired him in his corner after round six.
"I cannot do this any more," Tyson said immediately after the loss.
"I am not going to lie to myself and I am not going to embarrass this sport. This is a great sport. This is a sport that has taken men with pretty humble lives and humble beginnings and put them in the position to rub shoulders with royalty."
The fight, Tyson's first since a knockout loss to Englishman Danny Williams a year earlier, drew a crowd of 15,472 to Washington's MCI Centre - proof that Tyson remains one of the biggest names in the sport.
Hey why not put those little bumper things that they put in bowling alleys for kids to bowl around the ring... and give Mike those big amusement park over-sized gloves while you're at it.....
Despite a humiliating loss to mediocre Irish giant Kevin McBride in Washington on June 11, Tyson, 39, still believes he has the punching power to remain a major attraction in heavyweight boxing in a series of four-round fights.
His trainer Jeff Fenech will fly to Phoenix, Arizona, today to continue negotiations for a tournament featuring Tyson in a series of abbreviated bouts against the likes of Holyfield and another former heavyweight champ Riddick Bowe.
It would be boxing's equivalent of cricket's limited overs format or the new Twenty20 game.
Fenech says there has already been interest in the tournament from promoters in Las Vegas and Dubai.
"Mike does not want to go out of boxing as a loser against Kevin McBride," Fenech said.
"He is one of the greatest heavyweight champions of all time and is still explosive for four rounds.
"He doesn't want to compete in 10- round fights because after 20 years as a big-name fighter it is hard to keep backing up in the gym.
"But physically he remains rock solid and very strong and believes he can still thrill fans with the style that made him the youngest ever heavyweight champ in 1986."
Against McBride, Tyson lost two points for a head-butt, tried to break the Irishman's arm in a clinch and locked his teeth around McBride's nipple. But he was still ahead on points when Fenech retired him in his corner after round six.
"I cannot do this any more," Tyson said immediately after the loss.
"I am not going to lie to myself and I am not going to embarrass this sport. This is a great sport. This is a sport that has taken men with pretty humble lives and humble beginnings and put them in the position to rub shoulders with royalty."
The fight, Tyson's first since a knockout loss to Englishman Danny Williams a year earlier, drew a crowd of 15,472 to Washington's MCI Centre - proof that Tyson remains one of the biggest names in the sport.
Hey why not put those little bumper things that they put in bowling alleys for kids to bowl around the ring... and give Mike those big amusement park over-sized gloves while you're at it.....
