DJ Vlad referred to it as a ‘rematch’. But to many fans, it might as well be a callout for a trilogy. It’s been thirty-eight years since Mitch Green fought Mike Tyson. However, two years after their May 20, 1986, slugfest, Green and Tyson met once again. But not in the ring. Outside, in Harlem’s Dapper Dan.

Watching his former opponent return to the ring two months ago, Mitch Green believes he still has what it takes to challenge one of history’s most feared fighters. On November 15, nineteen years after he retired from professional boxing, ‘Iron’ Mike stepped into the ring at Cowboys Stadium and faced 27-year-old Jake Paul. The bout, an eight-round special rules match, ended in Tyson suffering his seventh career loss. Mitch Green weighed in on the fight as he sat down with DJ Vlad for an interview.

Mitch Green’s Confidence Rekindled

“Well, Mike Tyson just fought Jake Paul and lost. Uh, what did you think about that fight?” asked Vlad. “There was no fight,” replied the former professional boxer, likening the event to a dance performance rather than a true boxing match. Although Green admitted he hadn’t watched the bout, he claimed he had already predicted the outcome.

Many felt that Mike Tyson would easily knock out Jake Paul. However, Green somehow knew that he wasn’t the same boxer that he once used to be. DJ Vlad shared how he had foreseen the Ohioan winning the match. Showing his trademark moves, the 6 feet and 5 inches tall former fighter promptly claimed that he would beat Jake Paul.

Green’s comments led DJ Vlad to ask if he was officially challenging Jake Paul to a fight. “Are you calling out Jake Paul for a fight right now? Is that what you’re doing? All right, there we go, Jake Paul,” he said. Without hesitation, Green doubled down, insisting Paul could never defeat him.

“He beat Tyson, but he won’t beat me,” said Mitch Green, while telling someone behind the camera to take a swing at him. His antics drew immediate laughter from DJ Vlad. Green continued, “He can’t hurt me. He isn’t going to hurt me; he can’t beat me.”

Throwing down the gauntlet to Mike Tyson

Later in the conversation, the topic shifted back to Mike Tyson. Mitch Green insisted that the former heavyweight champion will not be able to defeat him. When DJ Vlad asked, “So if Mike Tyson agreed to fight with you again today,” Mitch Green shot back, “He wouldn’t do it.”

But what about him? If there’s an offer, will he willingly accept it? Mitch Green responded in the affirmative. “With a quickness,” he said in a three-word daring callout to Mike Tyson. DJ Vlad promptly proclaimed, “With a quickness, all right, there you go, Mike Tyson, Mitch ‘Blood’ Green called you out too.”

On the other hand, Mike Tyson has remained noncommittal about future fights. During the post-fight interview, when Ariel Helwani asked about potential opponents, Tyson pointed at Logan Paul. In another ten days, Mitch Green will turn 68.

The fight between 58-year-old Mike Tyson and 27-year-old Jake Paul faced considerable backlash. It’s hard to imagine what everyone would be murmuring about if Mitch Green stepped into the ring again. For the diehards, nevertheless, the rematch issue was long settled out in the streets of Harlem.

Despite the years that have passed, Green can always hold his head high as the fighter who followed James Tillis in taking a prime Mike Tyson the whole distance.

As boxing continues to see retired champions and aging fighters return to the ring, fans are left with a question: Does nostalgia outweigh the risks? Would you feel comfortable watching former legends step back into the spotlight?