Mike Tyson might step back into the boxing ring again, this time against a legendary figure from the world of mixed martial arts.
The iconic heavyweight boxing champion recently returned last November for a high-profile match against Jake Paul on Netflix, attracting over 100 million viewers. However, concerns about his health were raised after the fight was postponed past his 58th birthday due to various medical issues.
Now, the head of Kazakhstan’s Alash Pride League has presented him with an offer for a bout that could be considered more fitting for his age. His potential opponent is a heavyweight legend from MMA, whom commentator Joe Rogan has described as the greatest of all time, even though he never competed in the UFC.
Potential Opponent: Fedor Emelianenko
Despite the mixed reactions to his recent fight with Jake Paul, significant interest remains in seeing Mike Tyson compete again. He remains incredibly popular and captures fan attention even as he approaches 60.
The Kazakh promotion Alash Pride FC is reportedly seeking to match him against the legendary MMA heavyweight champion, Fedor Emelianenko. The promotion is apparently targeting an event in December to potentially host this headline bout.
According to APL President Alimzhan Bektaev, who spoke to the press yesterday, “We are planning a bout between Mike Tyson and Fedor Emelianenko. Work in this direction is already underway… The tournament, where we want to invite Mike Tyson, is scheduled for December.”
Emelianenko`s Past Comments on Facing Tyson
When Tyson first returned to the ring for his exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr. during the pandemic, Emelianenko watched with interest. That fight generated significant pay-per-view buys and reportedly spurred discussions about various potential future opponents, including a possible match between the two legends.
Speaking on The MMA Hour in 2023, Emelianenko addressed the possibility of fighting Tyson when asked by host Ariel Helwani. Emelianenko said, “We watched the fight on TV of Roy Jones Jr. vs. Mike Tyson. Mike Tyson would be an interesting fight. He has a big name, he’s a legend… It would be interesting because you can see a lot of his videos on YouTube and all over the place, he’s still in good shape. He still works pads, he still has that same power.”
