Three time world champion Jeff Fenech is training Mike Tyson for his return to the ring on October 20 when he meets former sparring partner Corey Sanders who is weighing in at 360 pounds. Fenech talks to Fightnews and tells of when he first met Tyson and how he rates the former world heavyweight champion as the best of all time and why he thinks Evander Holyfield would be an excellent opponent for Mike in his comeback.

Did you first meet Mike Tyson when you boxed Azumah Nelson on the undercard of the Mike Tyson vs Razor Ruddock?


No - I met Mike about 12 months before that fight at an award ceromony.
He recognised who I was and he was very generous giving me praise for some of my fights. Obviously I was happy that the heavyweight champion of the world would give that praise.

Mike is rated one of the best heavyweights of all time - where do you rate him among other greats Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano.

I honestly believe in his prime and training well he could have beaten all of them. He had great power and upper body movement. He could generate a lot of power. Mike has been dynamic puncher


How long have you been in the USA training Mike?

I have been here for six weeks now - doing public exhibitions with Mike at the Aladdin Hotel Casino - who have just been bought out by Planet Hollywood. We have the ring set up and have been doing the public work outs that have attracted big crowds. There have been many Australians there - they have come up and had photos taken with Mike. Top Australian Rugby League football player Jarred McCracken came up to Mike's room and met him. Also Adam MacDougall who plays for the Newcastle Knights met Mike.

Mike Tyson is still a very popular celebrity. What are your thoughts about this?

It is unbelievable the crowds that have been there to watch him. You cannot move when Mike is there. Just unbelievable.


He has been travelling the world since his last fight against Kevin McBride 15 months ago - he seems to be in demand where ever he goes. Is that the case?

I just did not think he would be that big in America. I have been to London and Scotland with him and the crowds that followed him around was amazing. But in America they have been enormous crowds to watch him train.

Tyson first fight on the tour is against a tough heavyweight Corey Sanders who holds a KO win over current WBC champion Oleg Maskaev. Will he be a difficult opponent for Mike?


Corey is the only guy to knock out Maskaev. I have watched Corey train - he is very determined to give his best against Mike. Sanders has been just been offered a fight in the Virgin Islands. He is a big heavyweight weighing around 360 pounds. There fight will be over four rounds - so there is going to be a lot of action.

Future Hall of Fame boxer “Iron” Mike Tyson hosted a press conference in Youngstown, Ohio on Thursday to launch “Mike’s Tyson World Tour,” a series boxing cards across the globe that will have the centerpiece of a four-round exhibition featuring the former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world in action. The first stop is October 20th at the Chevrolet Centre in Youngstown. Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) will battle hardcore veteran Corey “T-Rex” Sanders (23-10, 15 KO's) in the main event. Also on the card, former IBF lightweight champion Paul “The Pittsburgh Kid” Spadafora will make his return to the ring after a 2-year plus absence plus outstanding amateur Juan McPhereson (3-0, 2 KOs) - a native of nearby Cleveland - will show why he is considered a prospect in the middleweight division.

Sterling McPherson of Sterling Promotions is presenting the “Mike Tyson’s World Tour." McPherson traveled the world with Tyson earlier this year and witnessed his popularity with the people of China, Ireland and Australia. “Mike Tyson is one of the greatest fighters that has ever lived,” stated McPherson. “We’re giving fans all over the world a chance to watch him box again and it all starts October 20 in Youngstown.” "Hey, he's a guy who knocked out the heavyweight champion," McPherson said about the 6-foot-6, 300-pounder Sanders who scored an eighth-round knockout of newly crowned titlist Oleg Maskaev in 2002. "And it's an exhibition. Joe Louis did them. Jack Dempsey did them. Muhammad Ali did exhibitions. It is an exhibition tour. I ain't lying to anybody."

The former heavyweight champion says he won't make enough money on the tour to pay his debts but wants to do it for the fans.

Tyson said at a Youngstown news conference that he chose northeast Ohio to begin the tour because he feels comfortable near his old training center north of Warren.

The first event of “Mike Tyson’s World Tour” in Youngstown will telecast live in North America on cable and satellite pay-per-view beginning at 10:30 PM/ET, 7:30 PM/PT. The event is produced and distributed for pay per view by Queensbury Media and Integrated Sports and is available in more than 50-million homes in North America via iN Demand, DirecTV & Dish Network in the USA, Viewer’s Choice & Bell ExpressVu in Canada. The suggested retail price for the PPV telecast is only $29.95.

Tickets go on sale October 3rd at 10 a.m. at the Chevrolet Centre Box Office or online at www.gettix.net or at our Gettix outlets. Tickets are very affordable with prices at $25, $50, $100 and $200 (plus applicable fees). Doors will open Oct. 20 at 7 PM/ET with the first bout at 8 PM/ET. Call 330.746.5600 or go to www.chevroletcentre.com for more info.

Mike Tyson kicks-off Mike Tyson World Tour in which he will fight in a series of four-exhibitions in Youngstown, Ohio September 28, 2006.REUTERS/Ron Kuntz

Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson spars with his trainer Jeff Fenech during the first workout of a boxing exhibition Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2006, at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas. Tyson said that he is not planning a comeback, and that he is just working out. Tyson will have open workouts at the Aladdin everyday, except Sundays, for the next four weeks.

Update: The schedule of events is: Wednesday, August 30 – Wednesday, September 27
Daily: Monday – Saturday (dark Sundays)
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Mezzanine Level
Admission is free and open to the public