Is A Mike Tyson Comeback Fight A Possibility After His Training Video Went Viral?

I’m a Bad Boy for Life. Watch #BadBoysforLife now on DVD Blueray @realmartymar #willsmith #stillthebaddestmanontheplanet pic.twitter.com/R9Zmz19GFm

— Mike Tyson (@MikeTyson) May 1, 2020

ESPN – “I didn’t know what to expect,” trainer Rafael Cordeiro told ESPN’s Ariel Helwani on Monday. “He hasn’t hit mitts for almost 10 years. So I didn’t expect to see what I saw. I saw a guy with the same speed, same power as guys 21, 22 years old.”

A short training clip of Mike Tyson recently went viral, and according to the man who was catching the former champ’s punches, the iconic heavyweight still has some fight left in him at age 53.

Cordeiro said he believes that within six months Tyson could make a successful comeback as a boxer.

“It’s not a joke,” he insisted, adding there is more footage that will be released that shows ”more power, more speed, everything.”

“Could you imagine a third fight with Evander Holyfield?” Cordeiro said.

When the above video started to pick up steam, now up over 134,000 likes on Twitter, I thought “Good for Mike Tyson, taking care of himself and getting into shape during the quarantine.” But now that we’ve got a follow-up interview with ESPN from his trainer Rafael Cordeiro with the convenient seed planted that Iron Mike may be interested in a return to the ring, there’s officially some smoke to the potential fire. Networks and pay-per-view providers want content that will put butts in seats as they attempt to recover from the revenue loss of COVID-19 and a Mike Tyson comeback fight would be one of the biggest draws imaginable.

Is it a good idea for the now 53-year-old to get back in the ring against a real opponent? Probably not. Is it a good idea for him to even get back in the ring against a fellow old timer who shouldn’t be in the ring like Evander Holyfield? I’ll say likely a no. But would I watch alongside likely millions of people on pay-per-view (*cough and illegal streams cough*)? That’s a slam dunk yes.

Iron Mike is THAT DUDE. He may be remembered more as the crazy person we’ve seen in recent decades, though he has reportedly gotten his life on track with addiction and mental health issues. But there was no show quite like Mike Tyson in his pre-jail heyday:

If he is able to clear the physical tests and in solid emotional and mental health, I don’t see how this wouldn’t be a massive event. And the mini media blitz makes me think that someone else, whether it be Mike or his management team, sees the big dollar signs in a Mike Tyson comeback fight. It won’t shock me if this picks up some steam if things look right for Mike behind the scenes.

But hey, I might be biased towards a Mike Tyson comeback fight as a lifelong fan and friend of Iron Mike, as pictured below in a tanner, chubbier and less bearded period of my life:

Just two of the baddest men on the planet talking as peers about our love of the fight game and unhealthy snacks. I’m ready to corner any Mike Tyson comeback fight as needed. That’s what friends do.