Mike Tyson fight odds: Will legendary boxer make a comeback in 2020?
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Mike Tyson is planning a comeback, and oddsmakers are already taking bets on the details of his next potential fight.
The 53-year-old former undisputed world heavyweight champion has made waves recently after telling rapper T.I. in late April that he's training for charity exhibition bouts. Then, on Monday, Tyson dropped a training video on Instagram, ending with the declaration: "I'm back."
Could a Tyson fight really happen this year? Oddsmakers are skeptical, but Tyson is still even money to step into the ring before the end of 2020:
Will Mike Tyson fight in a pro or exhibition bout in 2020?
| Will fight happen in 2020? | Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | Even |
| No | -140 |
Those odds may look absurd, but there's a reason for the hype.
Just a week ago, trainer Rafael Cordeiro said that Tyson, who retired in 2005, was displaying the power and speed of an early 20s boxer. Cordeiro stressed that Tyson's comeback is "not a joke," saying he could make a successful return within six months.
Within the last week, Evander Holyfield - who famously beat Tyson in two mid-90s bouts - announced a comeback of his own, saying he'd be open to a rematch with Tyson. David Feldman, president of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, also confirmed a $20 million offer for Tyson to step into the BKFC ring. Tyson is +150 to fight a BFKC match in 2020 and -200 not to go that route.
For all the smoke, the issue with the bet is timing. To cash, you'd need Tyson to step into the ring within the next seven months, which seems like a long shot given his age and the pandemic-induced state of affairs with sports.
Considering how long even an ordinary boxing match takes to schedule, train for, and book at the appropriate venue, our bet is no (-140) at really juicy odds. However, we certainly wouldn't complain about being on the wrong end of that prop.
If a fight does occur, here are the odds for a few of Tyson's potential matchups. If you think he's still got it, he's a plus-money value in most of them:
Mike Tyson matchup odds
| Mike Tyson vs. Sonny Bill Williams | Odds |
|---|---|
| Tyson | +200 |
| Williams | -300 |
| Mike Tyson vs. Paul Gallen | Odds |
|---|---|
| Tyson | +150 |
| Gallen | -200 |
| Mike Tyson vs. Barry Hall | Odds |
|---|---|
| Tyson | +110 |
| Hall | -150 |
| Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield | Odds |
|---|---|
| Tyson | -120 |
| Holyfield | -120 |
| Mike Tyson vs. Shannon Briggs (BKFC) | Odds |
|---|---|
| Tyson | -150 |
| Briggs | +110 |
| Mike Tyson vs. Hector Lombard (BKFC) | Odds |
|---|---|
| Tyson | +200 |
| Lombard | -300 |
| Mike Tyson vs. Bobby Gunn (BKFC) | Odds |
|---|---|
| Tyson | -200 |
| Gunn | +150 |
C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.