Tyson and Holyfield saga took 12 years to reach rescheduled fight
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 22, 2026, 6:05 AM
Last updated Sep 22, 2026
The highly anticipated fights between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield were first discussed in 1984 and only took place in November 1996. Initial plans for a fight were disrupted by personal issues, including Tyson's imprisonment and various boxing setbacks. The negotiations exemplified the complex nature of boxing promotions. Meanwhile, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are expected to meet in Cardiff on December 11, a process deemed simpler in comparison.
- •Tyson and Holyfield's first fight was planned for 1990 but postponed multiple times.
- •Tyson was arrested in 1991, delaying negotiations for years.
- •The fight finally occurred in 1996, marking a significant moment in heavyweight boxing.
- •Fury and Joshua's potential fight is set for December 11, 2026.
- 6:05 AMYahoo Sports — Think Joshua vs Fury is bad? Tyson vs Holyfield took 12 years to make
"A pool-table incident in 1984 set up a world heavyweight title fight... in 1996
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