Heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury almost had a shot at an exhibition match against his namesake, Mike Tyson.
However, any hopes of an exhibition match appear to be gone because of Tyson’s apparent financial demands.
Fury told iFL.tv that “there was talk” of doing a fight with Tyson. He admitted the fight was “a lose-lose situation for me” because he “didn’t need to fight a man past his best.”
Unfortunately, the fight didn’t materialize because of money.
“Mike was talking about £500 million ($620 million) figures but what came back to us on paper was a joke,” Fury said. “It was crazy. I did have a $10 million offer from ESPN to do the fight as an exhibition, but I think everyone has moved on now.”
Tyson has been training in Los Angeles at Three Kings MMA planning a return to the ring for the first time in 15 years.
The steam surrounding his return picked up last month when he posted a training video on Instagram saying at the end: “I’m back.”
Mike Tyson hasn’t had an official boxing match since June 2005 when he lost to Kevin McBride. He did fight Corey Sanders in a 2006 exhibition bout.
Moving On
Currently, Fury and his U.S. promoter Bob Arum have been planning the trilogy fight against Deontay Wilder. The fight is supposed to happen late this year.
“We’ve talked to [Macau],” Arum told Sky Sports (h/t Nicholas McGee of Sporting News). “They’re ready to put up money for the Fury fight against Wilder in November or December.
“We are waiting to see if the authorities in Macau will allow an event with full spectators in November or December.”
Fury has also verbally agreed to a two-fight deal against British superstar, Anthony Joshua.
