EVANDER HOLYFIELD was once lauded by Mike Tyson as the best he has faced as the pair gear up to make a sensational return to boxing.

Speculation is mounting the two legends are both set to come out of retirement for an intriguing trilogy fight in aid of charity.

Each veteran has shared clips of them looking in superb condition while training for a potential comeback, with both open to taking on the other in an exhibition match.

They last met infamously in 1997 when Tyson, now 53, was disqualified for biting a chunk of Holyfield’s ear off.

Since then the duo have become close with the Baddest Man on the Planet lauding praise on his former ring rival.

In a recent interview with Holyfield on his podcast ‘Hotboxin‘, Tyson said: “He’s a good guy, I always knew he was a good guy. I want people to react and get in their heads, but he never reacted.

“He was an awesome counter-puncher. I’d say the best ever.

“I always wondered how he could be so good and so humble.”

And in an interview with Ring Magazine, Tyson described Holyfield as both the best puncher and as well as his best ever opponent.

He said: “Great champion: chin, heart, determination, work ethic, demeanor.

“He threw terrific shots with both hands and with bad intentions.”

Despite Tyson’s compliments, Holyfield snubbed Iron Mike after picking George Foreman as the hardest hitter he faced.

And it seemed the Real Deal made a similar impression on Big George following his unanimous decision win back in 1991.

Foreman tweeted in 2017: “No one ever had as much heart, you hurt him you get 15 shots, like waking a Tiger.”

Holyfield is the only four-time heavyweight champion in boxing history, and remains the only person to win the undisputed championship in two weight classes.

He has since sparked mass excitement by revealing he is in talks for a sensational comeback scrap against Tyson – 23 years after their last bout.

Whether the two meet for a third time remains to be seen, but Shannon Briggs appears to have secured a fight with the former two-time heavyweight champ.