Mike was never going to fight MMA, he signed to do publicity.
Someone said he would do "a series of boxing exhibitions against Pride fighters" but that obviously never happened.
Tyson went to a press conference (as I recall) for Pride back when they were setting things up to do their first American show, he was asked point blank if he would fight and he said no.
Sounds somewhat par for the course to me in terms of the shady shit that went on with Pride's owners/management.
But for what it's worth I would have LOVED to see Mike put on those blue gloves. He would have been dangerous in the cage and definitely could have won fights, especially with a little basic sprawl training.
(He was a street fighter before he was a boxer and he was built like a tank with a low center of gravity and he was willing to bite people.... the man was a fighter)
A level Olympic athlete
A level world champion pro boxer
Amazing footwork, head movement, defense, balance, strength, granite chin, genius level understanding of boxing fundamentals, technique and history
Unique "peek-a-boo" style (which Cus had also taught to Floyd Paterson)
Plenty of aggression
Well versed in fight camps, disciplined when he wanted to be.
One shot KO power in either hand
Could fight extremely well from either stance, used advanced footwork/shifting to close distance and open up power punches from a variety of angles
