Sugar Ray Leonard was swift to rule out making a comeback on the day Mike Tyson confirmed his new Legends Only League series for veterans.
The boxing great of the 1980s and 1990s dismissed the notion of coming out of retirement at 64. No surprise there.
Tyson’s new series is set to feature boxing legends and superstars from all sports.
It’s been speculated that ‘The Baddest Man on the Planet’ could target the likes of Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, and others from the NBA and NFL.
So far, there’s been no mention of an age cap despite some health and safety fears.
Sugar Ray Leonard
Leonard, at his age, is one hundred percent correct to stay away. One man who is likely to sign up, though, is Evander Holyfield.
Approaching his 58th birthday in the fall, Holyfield is in superb shape and has been training for several months.
A possible clash quadrilogy battle with Riddick Bowe or someone in the ilk of a James Toney seems highly viable for Tyson’s platform.
‘The Real Deal’ retired from the sport in 2011 but never reached his end goal of regaining the heavyweight crown for the fifth time. This is despite being undefeated for the last four years of his career.
Holyfield is tipped as a shoo-in to enter and possibly even face Tyson again down the line.
Replacement
So who else could sign up if not Sugar Ray Leonard?
If the $50 million figures being touted are correct, why wouldn’t Floyd Mayweather be interested in being involved? – Maybe because his name isn’t on it, but that surely wouldn’t put a stop to any approach from Tyson that included eight figures.
Bowe, Toney, plus the likes of Lennox Lewis, Wladimir Klitschko, and others, would be most welcomed to the format.
As things stand, Tyson facing Roy Jones Jr. over eight three-minute roads could do with some modification.
Maybe dropping to two minutes with a one-minute break would be better suited. However, sanctioning is yet to allow it.
The California State Athletic Commission has blessed Tyson vs Jones, which will open the floodgates for more legends of the past.
Whether they are cleared to fight or not is another story.
WBN Editor Phil Jay has over ten years of boxing news experience. Follow WBN on Facebook @officialworldboxingnews, Instagram, and Twitter @worldboxingnews.
