Evander Holyfield’s comeback fight against Vitor Belfort in 2021 serves as a warning for Mike Tyson.
Holyfield, then 58 years old, accepted a fight with the former UFC light-heavyweight champion when Oscar De La Hoya, Belfort’s original opponent, was forced to pull out of the contest after contracting COVID-19.
The former two-weight world champion looked like a shell of his former self in the ring as he was wobbled by the first meaningful shot he absorbed, and was subsequently dispatched inside the opening stanza.
Now, Tyson is preparing to return to the ring at the same age as Holyfield was when ‘The Real Deal’ was battered from pillar to post by Belfort.
Except, rather than ‘Iron Mike’ giving away a 14-year age disparity as Holyfield did to Belfort, he is stepping into the ring with a man 31 years his junior in Jake Paul.
The last time Tyson competed – a non-scoring bout against Roy Jones Jr in 2020 – he looked in much better nick than Holyfield.
However, ‘RJ’ was also in his 50s.
Concerns have been raised about Tyson’s health as he gears up to box Paul.
Senior Lecturer in Medicine at Anglia Ruskin University, Stephen Hughes, recently highlighted the potentially fatal injuries he could suffer in the bout during an article for The Conversation.
As he is an older man and recovering alcoholic, Tyson is at an increased risk of suffering a subdural haematoma, better known as a brain bleed.
“In older people, the brain tends to lose volume,” Hughes explained. “This lengthens the bridging veins and makes them more vulnerable to rupture.
“Bleeding from these torn veins causes a collection of blood that presses on the brain.
“This causes confusion, loss of consciousness, neurological disability and, in some cases, death…
“Alcoholism is known to accelerate brain shrinkage, and it appears that Tyson has this as a past risk factor.”
Tyson and Paul square off on July 20 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas live on Netflix.
Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano’s sequel will serve as the chief support, with the rest of the undercard yet to be announced at the time of writing.
News Summary:
- Evander Holyfield’s last exhibition fight is bad news for Mike Tyson as boxing legend gears up to face Jake Paul
- Check all news and articles from the latest Boxing updates.