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.
Like Tyson’s upcoming fight against Jake Paul, Holyfield’s return to the ring was preceded by widespread medical concerns.
The former two-weight world champion looked like a shell of his former self, slipping early and nearly falling out of the ring.
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Holyfield was wobbled by the first meaningful shot he absorbed – and got knocked down with a left-hand moments later.
Once he got back to his feet, Belfort rained shots down on him and although Holyfield covered up, he offered no replies of his own as the referee stopped the fight.
Many had criticised the decision to place a 58-year-old Holyfield in the ring and praised the referee for stepping in so quickly.
However, the boxing legend said: “The guy pushed me, the guy is strong.
“But I wasn’t hurt. There wasn’t no shot that hurt me real bad. He got me with a shot and I was off balance. I’m not hurt. It’s kind of sad.
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“I think it was a bad call, he shouldn’t have stopped the fight that quick.”
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 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.
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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.
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“Alcoholism is known to accelerate brain shrinkage, and it appears that Tyson has this as a past risk factor.”
