KEY POINTS

  • Mike Tyson is being sued by Triller for refusal to work with the company
  • Triller claims the company paid Tyson $25 million to face Evander Holyfield
  • Triller seeks to make sure Tyson won’t stage events without its involvement

Retired boxing champion Mike Tyson is facing another fight soon although this may be in court.

Reports have emerged that the 54-year-old has refused to work with Triller after reportedly paying the “Baddest Man on the Planet” $25 million to face rival Evander Holyfield.

No less than Triller CEO Ryan Kavanaugh allegedly sent a letter to Tyson, which stated that they paid over $30 million on his last fight with Roy Jones Jr.

It was explained as well how the company took a big risk but was hoping to possibly make up for it with a Tyson vs. Holyfield trilogy.

“No one else but Triller was willing to take $25 million dollars of risk on the initial fight, especially in the middle of COVID. We did. Every penny paid in full and no one has ever claimed that we did not every penny in full,” Kavanaugh stated.

Kavanaugh also bared that the reason behind the lawsuit was to prevent "Iron Mike" from staging other exhibition fights that did not involve Triller.

Moreover, the CEO claimed that he has the receipts to prove that Tyson had a financial agreement with Triller.

“It is unquestionable that we have a contractual right to your next fight, including but not limited to Evander. Having spent over $30 million dollars on your first fight while being told it was a crazy risk no one would take was only because and for this right to a Tyson-Holyfield fight. We also entered into an agreement directly with Evander,” he stated in a shared post via boxing insider Mike Coppinger.

Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr.
Roy Jones Jr. reacts after receiving a split draw against Mike Tyson during Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr. presented by Triller at Staples Center. Getty Images | Joe Scarnici

This comes several months after Tyson shared on Instagram that he would no longer work with Triller.

Tyson alleged that he has no deal with Triller and does not personally know any of the executives.

“Just to be clear, there is no Tyson with Triller fight. I don’t know any Triller executives personally. I don’t have a deal with Triller or any head executive representing them for the next event…I will never do another event or any business with Triller so anyone misrepresenting that they own the rights to my name or my next even isn’t true. I am not with or ever will be with Triller’s Fight Club,” Tyson’s statement read.

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