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Soccer News of Saturday, 23 May 2020

Source: www.mynigeria.com

Anthony Joshua speaks on Mike Tyson's return to boxing

Mike Tyson Mike Tyson

Heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua has expressed excitement at the possible return of Mike Tyson to boxing.

Tyson is currently preparing for a charity match which is hinted to be against former rival Evander Holyfield who defeated him twice.

The 53-year old has been uploading pictures showing him training hard for his return to the sport.

In reaction, Anthony Joshua who holds the WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles, has said that he would to see Tyson's return to boxing.

"If he's back in the ring then I would love to see it, I would definitely be one of the viewers that's for sure," Joshua told British GQ. "That's the man who got me [into boxing].

"Do you know what it was with Mike, when I watched him on YouTube, I see a little kid that was 13 and I truly believe -- no matter what anyone has to say about Mike Tyson now in terms of what he went through when he was fighting, some of the controversy he went through -- the guy took himself from his neighborhood, which wasn't the prettiest of scenes, up to an amateur champion, to the youngest ever world champion, to one of the most recognized faces of the sport."

Tyson's last fight was 15 years ago in a defeat against Kevin McBride.

"This is what we breathe, this is what we are, and especially someone like Iron Mike Tyson, that's all that man knows," Joshua said. "So for everyone else it's a comeback but for him it's just what he does, he's a fighter.

"So he's probably just taken a little break but for everyone else it's: 'Oh my God, Mike Tyson is making a comeback' but for Mike Tyson it's like: 'This is what I do, I'm a fighter by nature.'

"In my opinion, the only two faces that are recognized in boxing globally are Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson. They're the main faces of this sport. So from where he started to where he is now, he is my ultimate motivation.

"The reason I say is that because he's the closest guy that was to my generation so he holds a special place in my heart."