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Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson has shut down rumors of a return to the boxing ring against MMA legends Fedor Emelianenko or Mark Hunt. Tyson, who last competed in a professional boxing match in 2005, made a comeback in 2020 for an exhibition bout against Roy Jones Jr., ending in a draw on Triller Fight Club pay-per-view.'
Despite expressing openness to another exhibition fight, Tyson has emphasized the need for a compelling matchup and a substantial payday. While names like Jake Paul have called out Tyson in recent years, no significant fight materialized.
Reports surfaced last month suggesting Tyson's potential return, with initial rumors linking him to former PRIDE champion Fedor Emelianenko. Emelianenko, who retired from MMA after a loss to Ryan Bader in 2021, expressed interest in boxing and called out Tyson. Another contender in the mix was Mark Hunt, known for his success in both MMA and boxing, including a knockout win over Sonny Bill Williams in 2022. Hunt announced plans to come out of retirement and was linked to a potential bout with Tyson in late 2024.
However, a recent report from DailyMail refuted these speculations, indicating that Tyson would not be facing either Emelianenko or Hunt. One of Tyson's representatives clarified to Chisanga Malata that Tyson had not discussed such fights and had no interest in them.
With these developments, Tyson's boxing comeback remains uncertain. At the age of late 50s, the likelihood of his return seems remote, especially against MMA stalwarts like Emelianenko or Hunt.
In the meantime, Tyson is expected to be involved in training Francis Ngannou for his upcoming boxing match against Anthony Joshua on March 8th.