Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images
As if 2020 wasn’t strange enough, Tito Ortiz is making it sound like he’s in talks to fight Mike Tyson in a charity bout.
Does anyone remember the day Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor started sounding like a real possibility rather than a crazy pipe dream? Well, you can mark today down on the calendar as the day Mike Tyson vs. Tito Ortiz crossed that same threshold.
The 53 year old Tyson has gotten in tremendous shape recently, and talks about a comeback fight for charity have heated up in recent weeks. Of course a motley assortment of aged boxing and MMA figures have come out of the woodwork looking to get in on that. Most have generated a few headlines, but Tito Ortiz seems to be building the most buzz.
Now Tito is claiming he’s had multiple contacts with Tyson’s team over the idea. Who knows whether Tito is being legit or just trying to breathe more life into the idea on social media? He’s been around long enough to know you can force a fight into reality if enough people talk about it. And he’s not messing around when it comes to shooting his shot.
Check out the 8 minute ‘Tito Ortiz Uncaged’ promo video dedicated to hyping up the potential matchup he ‘executive produced.’
.@MikeTyson Vs @TitoOrtiz Tito Ortiz Uncaged Episode:30 https://t.co/NEzC0Nugwg via @YouTube #boxing #mma #charity
— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) May 24, 2020
“I’ve had three phone calls from three different people, Mike Tyson’s people, asking if I’d do it,” Ortiz said in the video. “I’m in, I’m down. Let’s get this stuff signed, let’s make it happen.”
“I’m not sure if it’s going to be MMA or boxing yet,” Ortiz said in an interview with TMZ Sports. “I haven’t even gotten that far. We both have got to be cleared by the athletic commissions. That’s the biggest thing. But either or. I’ve been boxing for 20 years. My boxing skills have gotten better and better. They may not be at the same level as Tyson, but has Tyson been punched in the face in the last 15 years? No he hasn’t. I have been. I’ve been able to subdue everyone I’ve competed against over the past four years.”
Ortiz has indeed done pretty well for himself in his post-UFC career, going 5-1 since 2014. And while we don’t give him much chance against Tyson in a boxing ring, he’s skilled and still youthful enough to make it an intriguing affair. And famous enough in a polarizing way that people would pony up $60+ in the hopes that he’d get knocked out. It’s a completely ridiculous freakshow fight, which is why I kind of love it.
What do you think, Maniacs? Are you interested in this match-up or exasperated that we’re even discussing it?