Tyson Fury reveals failed negotiations for blockbuster Mike Tyson fight over $500m demand

Plans for a high-profile bout between Tyson Fury and Mike Tyson collapsed when the latter demanded an excessive fee.

That's according to 'The Gypsy King', who stated that at one point, discussions about an exhibition match between the two were very much alive. However, the negotiations broke down when 'Iron' Mike requested a payment of $500million (£385m).

Wythenshawe native Fury - whose father, John, named him after the former undisputed world heavyweight champion - was at the peak of his career having just defeated Deontay Wilder for the first time when he received the offer. And he expressed his eagerness to face a figure who has significantly influenced his own boxing journey.

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"I did get a phone call with a chance to fight Mike Tyson," Fury revealed to BT Sport in 2020. "I was like, 'What? ' Yeah, I had a phone call saying, 'Would you like to fight Mike Tyson in an exhibition fight? ' I was like, 'Hell yeah! '".

The discussions failed to evolve, and 'The Baddest Man on the Planet' instead went up against fellow boxing legend Roy Jones Jr in a November 2020 exhibition. Fast forward to the present day, and 58-year-old Tyson is set to make a comeback from retirement when he takes on Jake Paul over eight two-minute rounds on November 15.

Speaking to iFL TV in October, Fury detailed why the much-anticipated showdown with Tyson didn't come to fruition: "There was talk of it. His people contacted me. Mike and I had a phone call. It was all real but never materialised.

"Whoever was offering the comeback money to Mike offered us peanuts. Mike was talking about $500m figures [half a billion], but what came back to us on paper was a joke. It was crazy. I did have a $10m offer from ESPN to do the fight as an exhibition, but I think everyone has moved on now.

While Tyson's return and his bout with Paul are stirring excitement, a fight between two Tysons could have been monumental. Or at least that bout might have had a bit more prestige than the upcoming clash between one of the greatest fighters to ever live and YouTuber Paul, 30 years his junior.

As speculation grows about Tyson's potential final bow following his engagement with Paul, fight fans wonder if this might mark the end of Tyson's storied career. The combat legend won't be short of offers if he manages to beat Paul, but many would like to see Tyson hang up his gloves for good and ride into the sunset.

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