CHICAGO-(MaraviPost)-Legendary boxer Mike Tyson has turned down a lucrative offer to fight bare-knuckle.
The 54-year-old former undisputed heavyweight world champion reportedly fancies a return to the ring and is rumoured to be considering high-profile appearances in a range of disciplines.
But bare-knuckle boxing, seen as the ancient form of the sport, involving two fighters going at it without any boxing gloves or padding on the fists – will not be his comeback of choice.
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship founder and president David Feldman told The Ring website on Monday that his franchise offered Tyson “a very generous offer” to sign with them.
Feldman said: “We offered Tyson US$20 million and some additional benefits, but he turned it down. Who knows what’s going to happen with Mike Tyson?
“(His management team) said he was going to fight in July already, but then they said he was going to fight in August, so who knows what’s going to happen with him.”
A source close to Tyson told The Ring the veteran had rejected the idea outright. They said: “His people told me last week that Mike wasn’t even considering bare-knuckle.”
Tyson appears likelier to take part in a mainstream boxing bout or in mixed martial arts, with a number of UFC fighters said to be keen to take him on. However, Feldman said the event would have been “guaranteed fireworks.” He explained: “If you have ever watched bare-knuckle fighting in the past, it doesn’t really matter who we match, the fights are always spectacular.
“We have Luis Palomino, who holds a signature win over UFC (welterweight contender) Jorge Masvidal, and he also had two wars with current UFC contender Justin Gaethje. Vallie-Flagg is undefeated.
“This guy is coming off a really good victory over former UFC star Melvin Guillard. Both guys are going to go right to the centre of the ring and bang it out. It’s going to be a tremendous fight.”
Source: Mirror
