Fedor Emelianenko created quite a stir 5 months ago when he went on the MMA hour and announced he’s interested in boxing Mike Tyson.
Since then, an instagram account surfaced claiming to be in direct contact with Emelianenko and that the two are negotiating with Saudi Arabia promoters to make it happen.
In November 2020, Tyson made a high-profile return to the boxing ring after a 15-year hiatus, participating in an exhibition bout against Roy Jones Jr. Despite the controversy surrounding the eight-round fight, scored as a draw, Tyson’s performance fueled speculation about potential future matches.
The latest rumors ignited when MMA Pack and Redfury posted on social media that Tyson and Emelianenko had agreed to a boxing match and were actively searching for an organizing body. The news thrilled fans who fondly remember Tyson and Emelianenko as two of the greatest heavyweights in their respective sports.
However, the excitement was short-lived, as Chisanga Malata of Sun Sport refuted the rumors. Malata stated on Twitter, “EXCLUSIVE Contrary to reports, Mike Tyson is NOT in negotiations to box MMA icon Fedor Emelianenko in Saudi. His reps told me today: ‘This is false. Mr. Tyson has not spoken to anyone in his camp. He is not interested in doing a fight with him now or in the future.'”
The clarification puts to rest the speculation surrounding a potential Tyson vs. Emelianenko boxing match. Tyson’s last professional boxing match before his comeback exhibition against Jones Jr. was in May 2005 against Kevin McBride. After this bout, Tyson officially retired from professional boxing.
As for Fedor Emelianenko, the MMA legend concluded his career with Bellator, participating in various promotions, including Strikeforce, Pride, and Affliction. In February 2023, Emelianenko fought his retirement match against Ryan Bader for the Bellator heavyweight title, ending in a first-round knockout loss.