BY: Mustapha Lawal
Claim:
Mike Tyson reportedly stated he’s willing to fight Olympic boxer Imane Khelif, with proceeds going to a women’s charity.
Verdict:
False. A spokesperson for Tyson confirmed that this claim is “absolutely false,” and there is no mention of such a fight on his social media platforms.
Full Text:
Imane Khelif, who won a gold medal in the women’s 66kg boxing category at the 2024 Paris Olympics, was at the centre of a gender eligibility controversy after being disqualified from the 2023 women’s world championships for unspecified reasons. Despite the controversy, Khelif has firmly asserted her identity as a woman and her right to compete in women’s boxing.
After winning the gold medal, Ms Khelif said: “I am fully qualified to take part in this competition, I am a woman like any other woman. I was born a woman. I have lived as a woman. I compete as a woman—there is no doubt about that”.
However, posts circulating on various social media platforms claimed that former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson has expressed his willingness to fight Algerian Olympic boxer Imane Khelif, with all proceeds benefiting a women’s charity.
The posts include images of Tyson and Khelif, and some text refers to the debate over gender eligibility in boxing. Many other posts on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Threads and Instagram share almost identical text and images.
FactCheckAfrica decided to work on this claim due to the amount of traction it has gained across platforms
Verification:
FactCheckAfrica found no credible evidence to support the claim. There are no posts or statements on Tyson’s social media accounts mentioning any such challenge or fight. Also spokesperson for Mike Tyson categorically denied the rumour, stating, “It’s absolutely false”.
Mike Tyson, who became the youngest heavyweight champion in history at age 20, has not participated in an official boxing match since 2005. His upcoming exhibition fight against YouTuber Jake Paul, scheduled for 15 November 2024, has been widely publicized, but there is no mention of any fight against Khelif.
Conclusion:
The claim that Mike Tyson has challenged Olympic boxer Imane Khelif to a fight is false. There is no credible evidence or official statement supporting this assertion. It’s important to verify information from reliable sources before sharing it on social media.
