Mike Tyson. Photo: Reuters
Mike Tyson will make his anticipated boxing comeback on August 23, but he will not be in his fighting togs.
The former heavyweight champion is returning to the world of the ring as a promoter and president of Iron Mike Productions.
The Brooklyn-born fighter, now 47, developed his concussive craft in upstate New York, and that is where he will make his debut as a promoter.
His first show, featuring a super-featherweight title tussle, will take place at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y., and will be televised on ESPN Friday Night Fights.
Despite his sordid history with promoters, Tyson is excited about the new endeavor.
“Believe me,” he laughed, “the last thing I ever thought I’d be doing would be returning to boxing as a promoter.
“But these two great businessmen approached me and I loved their ideas. I’m going to be very hands-on, personally checking on the conditioning and style of all our fighters.”
Tyson, who clearly loves talking about the nitty-gritty of boxing, also revealed ambitions beyond simply promoting professional bouts.
“I want to put together an amateur team that competes with teams from other countries,” he said. “I even want to work with kids who are just starting out and haven’t even had their first bout.” – The Wall Street Journal
