Mike Tyson’s Six-Word Response to Chris Eubank Sr’s Exhibition Fight Offer

Mike Tyson’s Six-Word Response to Chris Eubank Sr’s Exhibition Fight Offe

 

Chris Eubank Sr has shared his regret about approaching his friend, Mike Tyson, with a request for an exhibition match, only to receive a swift and humbling six-word response from the former heavyweight champion.

 

Eubank, a former middleweight and super-middleweight world champion, started his professional boxing career in 1985. At the peak of his career, the 58-year-old Brit secured notable wins over fighters such as Nigel Benn, Henry Wharton, and Lindell Holmes. However, after suffering a defeat to Joe Calzaghe in 1998 and subsequent losses to Carl Thompson, Eubank retired from the sport.

 

Unlike some of his contemporaries, Eubank has not returned to the ring. But shortly after his retirement, he approached Tyson with the idea of an exhibition fight, only to be firmly rejected. Tyson’s six-word reply put Eubank back in his place.

 

“I’ve always said Mike Tyson is my hero, and I have one regret in boxing, which is Michael Watson,” Eubank shared during a fan Q&A on his YouTube channel. “But there’s another regret. Back in 2000, when I was thinking about money after retiring, I asked Mike if I could fight him in an exhibition match. His response, though, was immediate and put me in my place. Mike said to me, ‘Come on man, you’re my friend.’ Wow. That was shameful. I was chasing money, and I wasn’t evolved at that time. I was still caught up in the game, trying to get money.”

 

Tyson retired from professional boxing in 2005 after losing to Kevin McBride, but he returned for an exhibition match with Roy Jones Jr. four years ago. Then, to the shock of the boxing world, Tyson made a full comeback last month to face Jake Paul.

 

The fight, held in Texas, didn’t go as Tyson had hoped, as he was dominated by Paul. Although Tyson avoided being knocked out, he lost clearly on points.

 

Reflecting on the fight afterward, Tyson shared his thoughts on Twitter: “This is one of those situations when you lose but still win. I’m grateful for last night. No regrets about stepping into the ring one last time. I almost died in June. I had eight blood transfusions, lost half my blood, and 25 pounds in the hospital. I had to fight to get healthy to fight again, so in a way, I won.”

 

He continued, “For my children to see me stand toe-to-toe and finish eight rounds with a talented fighter half my age in front of a packed Dallas Cowboys stadium—this is an experience no man has the right to ask for. Thank you.”