Evander Holyfield's return fight against Vitor Belfort in 2021 will serve as a warning to Mike Tyson.
Holyfield, then 58, accepted the fight with the former UFC light heavyweight champion when Belfort's original opponent, Oscar De La Hoya, contracted COVID-19 and was forced to withdraw.
As with Tyson's next fight against Jake Paul, there were medical concerns surrounding Holyfield's return to the ring.
The former two-division world champion slipped and almost fell out of the ring early on, looking like a shell of his former self.
Holyfield stumbled on the first meaningful shot he absorbed and was knocked down with a left hand moments later.
Once on his feet, Belfort rained down shots, which Holyfield covered but didn't respond and the referee stopped the match.
Many criticized the decision to license Holyfield, 58, and praised the referee's quick intervention.
But the boxing legend said: “He pushed me. He’s strong.
“But I wasn't hurt. There were no shots that really hurt me. He took a shot and I lost my balance. I wasn't hurt. It's kind of sad.
“I think it was a bad decision. He shouldn't have stopped the fight so early.”
Now, Tyson is preparing to return to the ring at the same age as Holyfield, whom Belfort pounded from pillar to post in “The Real Deal.”
However, “Iron Mike” will be in the ring with Paul, who is 31 years his junior, rather than overcome their 14-year age difference, as Holyfield did with Belfort.
In Tyson's last appearance, a scoreless bout against Roy Jones Jr. in 2020, he looked in much better shape than Holyfield.
However, “RJ” was also in his fifties.
Concerns have been raised about Tyson's health as he prepares to box with Paul.
Stephen Hughes, a senior lecturer in medicine at Anglia Ruskin University, recently highlighted the potential for fatal injuries during matches in an article for The Conversation.
Tyson's age and recovering alcoholism put him at increased risk for a subdural hematoma, also known as a brain bleed.
“In older people, brain volume tends to decrease,” Hughes explains. “This makes the bridging veins longer and more susceptible to rupture.
“Bleeding from these torn veins causes blood to collect and compress the brain.
“This can cause confusion, loss of consciousness, neurological damage and even death…
“Alcoholism is known to accelerate brain atrophy, and Tyson appears to have this as a past risk factor.”
Tyson and Paul will face off on July 20th at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and will be broadcast live on Netflix.
The sequel stars Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano in key supporting roles, with the rest of the undercard yet to be announced at the time of writing.
