NEW YORK -- Mike Tyson has agreed to defend his heavyweight championship against top-ranked contender Evander Holyfield June 18 for a payday of about $22 million, Holyfield's promoter said.
Dan Duva, who has promoted all of Holyfield's 23 professional bouts, said he reached agreement with Tyson's promoter Don King Wednesday night after a six-hour meeting at Las Vegas, Nev.
'It's the best fight out there,' Duva said. 'It's the biggest fight in history.'
Duva said Tyson will receive two-thirds of the purse and Holyfield one-third, although the challenger has been guaranteed in excess of $11 million. Promoters project the fighters will share between $35 million and $40 million from site fee, closed circuit, pay-per-view, foreign television rights, sponsorship and other income.
'It will be easy to do $35 million,' Duva said. 'We should have that much in about a month, before any tickets are sold.'
Duva said King signed the contract on behalf of Tyson and Holyfield and his manager Ken Sanders are expected to sign within a few days. The agreement Wednesday capped three weeks of negotiations by King and Duva's partner Shelly Finkel.
Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, N.J., is the leading contender to land the fight. Caesars Palace and the Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nev., are the other likely sites. A group from Japan, where Tyson will defend his title against Buster Douglas Feb. 11, is also interested in staging the fight in Tokyo.
Donald Trump has right of first refusal, but will probably have to put up more than the record $11 million he paid for the Tyson-Michael Spinks bout in June of 1987.
'We've had preliminary talks and we're definitely interested,' said Trump Plaza President Jack O'Donnell. 'Talks are very active.'
Tyson is 37-0 with 33 knockouts. Holyfield is 23-0 with 19 knockouts.
After his knockout victory over Michael Dokes last March made him the most attractive challenger to Tyson, Holyfield proposed a winner-take-all match against the champion. As it turns out, even the loser will make a bundle.
'Both guys are going to take a lot,' Duva said.
