By Mark Vester
In a recent interview with The Guardian, former four-time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield revealed details of conversations which took place between him and Jeff Fenech, who approached him on behalf of Mike Tyson to get an answer on whether he would agree to a third fight.
"There has been some talk between us," Holyfield said. "Mike had Jeff Fenech, who's been training him, call me a few months ago. Jeff says Mike wants to fight me again - but he needs to know if I would agree to it. I said, 'It all depends on what they gonna give us - because I'm gonna catch a lot of flak if I say I'm fighting Mike Tyson again. I've already said I don't want to fight Mike no more'. Jeff says, 'What if Mike gets in proper shape?' I told him that's OK but I can't be part of it if Mike's going to pull out. Jeff said, 'The main thing Mike wants to know is if you would be willing to fight him again?' I said, 'Yeah, if the price is right, I probably would'."
Holyfield told the paper that Tyson has it in him to get into proper shape for a third bout. After Tyson went on a recent tour of South Africa, Holyfield has not heard much of anything about the trilogy bout.
"I think he could - if he wanted to. I don't underestimate no man. He's 41 now. I'm four years older but the big difference is I've always kept in shape. Who knows with Mike? Soon after Jeff called, Mike went to South Africa and it's gone quiet since then."
Holyfield, in a huge upset, stopped Tyson over eleven-rounds in 1996. He also won the 1997 rematch after Tyson was disqualified in the third-round for biting off a piece of his ear.
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