Tyson is apparently scared to fight Holyfield, and no, it's not 1997

Yes, albeit it sounds like we've entered a time machine that sent us straight to the mid-90s, it's not the case here.

That Mike Tyson and that Evander Holyfield are close to exchanging punches again, 24 years after their infamous clash that ended with Tyson biting Holyfield's ear.

Tyson bites Holyfield's ear back in 1997 (©Focus on Sport/Getty Images))

Now aged 55 and 58, respectively, Tyson and Holyfield are eager to set the records straight after those fights that attracted the attention of almost a billion people around the world.

Holyfield - the only four-time world heavyweight champion - is making a comeback on Saturday night at a week's notice by replacing Oscar De La Hoya, 48, in a fight against UFC great Vitor Belfort.

On the other end, Tyson returned to the ring last year, then aged 54 for the first time in 15 years, to face fellow legend Roy Jones Jr in an exhibition bout.

Tyson, Lennox Lewis and Holyfield in 2020 (©Al Bello/Getty Images)

However, according to producer Ryan Kavanagh - who is interested in organizing another Tyson vs Holyfield clash - the latter is up for it, but not Mike.

"We know Tyson is trying to stage a fight with Lennox Lewis, "Kavanagh told Sky Sports and added:

''We have been told that he is scared to fight Evander.

"There has been back and forth hoopla. There is a massive payday ready for Mike to fight on Thanksgiving. A massive payday, one of his biggest!

"But we can't seem to push it along.

"Now I have heard, from a number of reliable sources, that Mike is too scared. He thinks Evander would knock him out."

Hm, it seems to us that this is just another mind game and a prelude for another battle of now-veterans.