Evander Holyfield has claimed that a trilogy fight against Mike Tyson could be worth up to $100 million (£72m).
Holyfield said last month that he had been in talks with Tyson over a rematch in Dubai later this year.
It would bring the two iconic fighters back into the ring again – 24 years after they last went head-to-head, which resulted in Tyson’s infamous disqualification for biting Holyfield’s ear.
A year before that clash in 1997, the pair first met in Las Vegas with Holyfield defeating Tyson by TKO after referee Mitch Halpern called a halt to the fight in the 11th round.
Holyfield, 58, wants the chance to beat Tyson, 54, for a third time in an exhibition match and, according to Boxing Scene, a deal for the fight is “close”.
The pair have developed a friendship over the years after being bitter rivals, but Holyfield believes boxing fans deserve a chance to see the final instalment of the trilogy, a fight which he thinks would be worth mega money.
Holyfield told the Last Stand Podcast: “I think it will be a lot of money and a lot of millions.
“I think $100 million (£72m).
“The fight would be big because so many people want the fight.
“We’re the top two guys people want to see.
“There’s no reason to do it with anybody else other than Tyson.
“The only thing that I hear people talking about [is] they want Tyson and myself.
“And you know, this is what the world wants to see.
“But you’re not in that situation, so you have to want to do it.
“So, I guess we have to come together and do it.”
Tyson returned to the ring at the back end of last year when he faced Ray Jones Jr in an exhibition fight which finished in a draw.
A trilogy fight against Tyson would represent a big comeback for Holyfield, who hasn’t got into the boxing ring since 2011 when he beat Brian Nielsen.