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IRON Mike Tyson could headline a heavyweight slugfest known as Superfighter planned for Melbourne's Vodafone Arena in early June.
The lucrative eight-fighter, elimination concept is the brainchild of Australian entrepreneurs Stephen Duval and Warren Spooner.
The pair claims to have commitments from four of the eight heavyweights the event will showcase and, with a purse of more than $6.5 million up for grabs, Tyson may join them.
"I have spoken to Mike on behalf of Superfighter, and while the first offer they made was great, the second one was even more enticing," former world champion and Tyson confidante Jeff Fenech told radio SEN last night.
"I have spoken to Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield as well and they are interested, so it could be one of biggest sporting events ever in Australia, and one of the best boxing events ever in the world."
Tyson retired after refusing to answer the bell in the seventh round of his comeback fight with Irishman Kevin McBride in Washington in June.
But Fenech was confident the former heavyweight champion could still make his mark.
"Mike is 39, but he can still get his body in great shape," Fenech said.
"He isn't really interested in training full-time any more, but for four rounds, I think it would be great for him. The way he fights he can go hell for leather for four rounds.
"I'm sure he could turn all those guys upside down in four rounds.'
The Superfighter format will feature four three-minute round fights, a scoring system that heavily rewards aggression. The pay-for-view product will also feature fan-friendly television developments, including more camera angles and super-slow motion. It will be broadcast live into the US through the HBO network.
"It is a great concept," Fenech said. "To get some of these great heavyweights together and let them go hell for leather for four rounds it would be something very interesting.
"It could be where the future of boxing is heading. At the moment fight fans pay too much for too many events where they don't get value."
The experienced James Toney, who is set to fight WBC champion Hasim Rahman in Atlantic City in March, is believed to have signed on.
Nigerian blaster Samuel Peter, who boasts 21 wins by knockout from 25 pro bouts is tipped to be on the card.
Tyson's involvement may depend on the convicted rapist being granted a visa to enter Australia.
But Fenech said he didn't expect that to be a problem.
"He loves the Australian people and would love to come here," Fenech said. "I don't think there would be a problem. Mike has done his time for the crime he was accused of.
"It's time to get off his back and if he comes here to fight, all he would need is a visa to compete and then he'll go home again."
The lucrative eight-fighter, elimination concept is the brainchild of Australian entrepreneurs Stephen Duval and Warren Spooner.
The pair claims to have commitments from four of the eight heavyweights the event will showcase and, with a purse of more than $6.5 million up for grabs, Tyson may join them.
"I have spoken to Mike on behalf of Superfighter, and while the first offer they made was great, the second one was even more enticing," former world champion and Tyson confidante Jeff Fenech told radio SEN last night.
"I have spoken to Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield as well and they are interested, so it could be one of biggest sporting events ever in Australia, and one of the best boxing events ever in the world."
Tyson retired after refusing to answer the bell in the seventh round of his comeback fight with Irishman Kevin McBride in Washington in June.
But Fenech was confident the former heavyweight champion could still make his mark.
"Mike is 39, but he can still get his body in great shape," Fenech said.
"He isn't really interested in training full-time any more, but for four rounds, I think it would be great for him. The way he fights he can go hell for leather for four rounds.
"I'm sure he could turn all those guys upside down in four rounds.'
The Superfighter format will feature four three-minute round fights, a scoring system that heavily rewards aggression. The pay-for-view product will also feature fan-friendly television developments, including more camera angles and super-slow motion. It will be broadcast live into the US through the HBO network.
"It is a great concept," Fenech said. "To get some of these great heavyweights together and let them go hell for leather for four rounds it would be something very interesting.
"It could be where the future of boxing is heading. At the moment fight fans pay too much for too many events where they don't get value."
The experienced James Toney, who is set to fight WBC champion Hasim Rahman in Atlantic City in March, is believed to have signed on.
Nigerian blaster Samuel Peter, who boasts 21 wins by knockout from 25 pro bouts is tipped to be on the card.
Tyson's involvement may depend on the convicted rapist being granted a visa to enter Australia.
But Fenech said he didn't expect that to be a problem.
"He loves the Australian people and would love to come here," Fenech said. "I don't think there would be a problem. Mike has done his time for the crime he was accused of.
"It's time to get off his back and if he comes here to fight, all he would need is a visa to compete and then he'll go home again."
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