No, Mike Tyson did not say he would fight Algerian boxer Imane Khelif

What is the claim?

A post circulating on social media claims that former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson said that he would fight Algerian Olympian boxer Imane Khelif. The post surfaced after a gender eligibility controversy concerning Khelif broke out during the Paris 2024 Olympics. Users have shared the claim on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). One such Facebook post read, "Breaking News: Mike Tyson says he's willing to Box Olympic DUDE with all Proceeds to go to a Battered Women's Charity…". Archived versions of such posts can be found here and here.

Screenshots of social media posts. (Source: X/Facebook/Modified by Logically Facts)

However, the claim is false. There is no evidence that Mike Tyson made any such statement, and a spokesperson for Tyson clarified to Reuters that the claim is false. 

How did we find the truth?

We reviewed Mike Tyson's official social media accounts to verify whether he had announced plans to box Imane Khelif. No such announcement was found on any of his social media platforms. Additionally, there are no credible news reports of Tyson making any such statement. The Imane Khelif controversy was covered by the media worldwide, and if a prominent figure like Tyson had made such a statement, it would have been reported by news outlets.

A spokesperson for Tyson told Reuters that the claim is "Absolutely false. Mr Tyson has yet to publicly comment about that situation."

Logically Facts has also contacted Tyson, and this fact check will be updated if and when we receive a response.

The Imane Khelif controversy

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif was the center of a recent controversy over gender eligibility during the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she eventually won a gold medal in the women's 66 kg category. Some claimed that she was actually a "biological male" or a "transgender woman" who was fighting in the women's category. These allegations went viral after former president Donald Trump, author J.K. Rowling, and billionaire Elon Musk reportedly amplified the claim of Khelif being biologically male.

The debate sparked on social media after Khelif defeated Italy's Angela Carini in a preliminary match. Carini quit less than a minute into the bout after Khelif punched her in the nose. 

The International Olympic Committee supported Khelif and said that she "was born female, was registered female, lived her life as a female, boxed as a female, and has a female passport."

Khelif was previously disqualified from the 2023 women's world championships match for failing to meet the eligibility criteria, with some reports suggesting that it was because of a "high level of testosterone in her system."

Khelif's reaction

According to a report by TIME, Imane Khelif reacted to the debate and said it "harms human dignity." She urged people worldwide to uphold the Olympic principles and refrain from bullying athletes, saying, "It can destroy people, it can kill people's thoughts, spirit and mind."

Khelief also reportedly filed a cyberbullying lawsuit against writer JK Rowling and Elon Musk, claiming she faced "misogynistic, sexist, and racist" comments from them during the Olympics. 

Mike Tyson was the world's youngest heavyweight champion at 20 but hasn't fought officially since 2005. He is set to face YouTuber Jake Paul in a match on November 15, 2024.  

Logically Facts has previously debunked the false claim that Khelif is a transgender woman. The fact check can be read here.

The verdict

Mike Tyson did not say he was willing to fight Algerian boxer Imane Khelif. A spokesperson for Tyson has confirmed to the media that the claim is false.