Long before Donald Trump was US President, or a reality TV star, the property tycoon used boxing as a means to market his casinos as a new home for boxing in Atlantic City.
Trump’s biggest impact in the sport was through Mike Tyson, hosting the 1988 fight between ‘Iron’ Mike and Michael Spinks, reportedly paying $11 million for the site fee to host that fight.
In the decades since, Tyson has become arguably the best-known living fighter, boxed recently in an exhibition with Roy Jones Jr before a sanctioned eight-round bout against the internet sensation Jake Paul, and this week hosts a Mike Tyson Invitational amateur event in Las Vegas.
Speaking to Ring Magazine, Tyson looks back to the Trump days with fondness. “We were just happy that we were on top of the world,” he said of the fights in Trump’s casinos. “Every time I fought in Atlantic City, the whole world focused on that. People from all over the world visited his casino because of the fights.”
He then said “boxing would be a lot better” if Trump was involved in boxing today. “Most boxers would perhaps have more money as well.”
Despite Trump’s residency, he remains close to combat sports as a whole as he is given a walk-out of his own whenever he attends UFC events, with Dana White an advocate of the President’s — even speaking at Republican National Committee events.
Tyson, though, is not the only one to think boxing could benefit from a Trump rub.
Considering the hero’s welcome Trump has received at UFC events he’s attended, it’s possible we do see him return to boxing — much like he promised to do for the Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury rematch in 2020 (yet wasn’t seen ringside).
“When there’s a massive event, he’ll want to be there,” Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn told Boxing Social last year.
“Everything is relatable to the size of the event,” Hearn said. “Trump ain’t coming to the smaller shows, but the sport and its razzmatazz, there’s nothing like it,” he said. “Nothing gives big-night feels like boxing does, and Trump will want to come to those.”
The Mike Tyson Invitational — a three-day event — includes a conversation between Tyson and Jim Gray on Thursday, workout and media day Friday, before a fight event Saturday at the Sahara resort in Las Vegas. The event airs on CSI Fight Sports, Swerve Combat, and DAZN.
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