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ANTHONY JOSHUA’S PROMOTER SAYS IT’S ‘IRRESPONSIBLE’ TO LET 53-YEAR-OLD TYSON RETURN TO RING

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The British promoter of Nigerian-born Anthony Joshua, Eddie Hearn has slammed the proposed return to the ring of Mike Tyson.

According to Reuters, Hearn remarked that he would probably like to see former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson fight again but has questioned whether boxing should be encouraging a 53-year-old to get back in the ring.

Serena Williams trains with ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson

Tyson, who became the youngest heavyweight champion of all time when he beat Trevor Berbick in 1986 aged 20, caught the attention of the boxing world by posting training videos on Instagram and has said he was considering exhibition bouts to raise money for charity.

“I would probably like to see it but … is it a bit irresponsible to let a 53-year-old legend back in the ring?” Hearn told British Boxing Television.

“I had a message from someone saying they wanted to talk to me about Mike. He looks pretty dangerous. What’s compelling is could he actually go back in at 53 and do some damage? But should we be encouraging that from an all-time great?

“There’s a fine line and I’ve crossed it a couple of times – between integrity of the sport and entertainment delivering numbers.

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“Our job is to deliver numbers for broadcasters but we have to keep it as close to the right mark as we can.”

Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield has also released a training video on social media, fuelling speculation that he could come out of retirement to face one-time rival Tyson.

-Reuters

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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