Tyson, Holyfield Put Bout On Hold Tyson’s Cut Forces Heavyweights To Reschedule Rematch For June 28

Once again, Mike Tyson is going to make Evander Holyfield wait.

This time, though, the wait doesn’t figure to be nearly as long.

Tyson on Tuesday postponed his rematch with Holyfield from May 3 until June 28 after reopening a cut over his left eye that he first injured in sparring last month.

It was the second time Tyson had postponed a fight against Holyfield, and the third time since Tyson was released from prison that he has had to postpone a fight because of illness or injury.

Holyfield had to wait five years after the first fight was scheduled to finally meet Tyson. When he did, he stopped Tyson in the 11th round to win the heavyweight title.

“What can I do? These things happen,” said Tyson, a mark clearly visible on the left corner of his eye.

“It will set me back in a way as far as my mindset goes,” he said at a hastily called news conference. “On the other hand, it’s a blessing in disguise because it gives me time to clean up some other aspects in my life that have been going on.”

Tyson declined to be specific, saying it was “nothing that needs to be aired in public at this time.”

He denied rumors circulating out of his training camp that he hadn’t been preparing properly for the fight.

“I don’t know where you received that information from. I’m in great shape, perhaps the best ever,” he said.

Tyson said he first was cut in sparring in Florida on March 17 and the cut was reopened last Wednesday when he resumed sparring, requiring 10-12 stitches. The cut began bleeding again on Monday.

Holyfield’s attorney, Jim Thomas, said Holyfield, who has been in training since February, was meeting with his trainers to decide when to resume training.

“It isn’t going to deter him from beating Mike Tyson again,” Thomas said. “He’s just going to have to do it a little later.”

Bruised ribs forced Tyson to pull out of a date with Holyfield in 1991, and he postponed a fight last July with Bruce Seldon after coming down with bronchitis.

Tyson also postponed a fight with Buster Mathis Jr. in November 1995 after suffering a broken thumb.

Tyson came to Las Vegas two weeks ago to begin his final round of training.

The fight has long been sold out and was expected to attract a record gate.

Holyfield will get at least $35 million for the fight, while Tyson is expected to make about $20 million.