mitt romney is well used to going toe to toe with america's political heavyweights, but now he's going to test his mettle against a heavyweight of a more intimidating nature – evander holyfield the 2012 presidential nominee will fight the 52 year old former world champion at a charity event at salt lake city's rail event center on may 15 however, he doesn't anticipate getting his opponent on the ropes mitt romney is well used to going toe to toe with america's political heavyweights, but now he's going to test his mettle against a heavyweight of a more intimidating nature – evander holyfield  romney, 68, who recently announced he will not be running for president in 2016, told the salt lake tribune: 'it will either be a very short fight, or i will be knocked unconscious it won't be much of a fight we'll both suit up and get in the ring and spar around a little bit' he added: 'we just thought it would be a lot better to provide this kind of entertainment rather than just have dinner and listen to speakers' the bizarre bout is taking place to raise money for charityvision, which provides equipment to doctors in developing countries treating people with curable blindness romney will fight the 52 year old former world champion (pictured) at a charity event at salt lake city's rail event center on may 15  romney  age: 68  weight: 185 pounds  height 6ft 1in  reach: unknown  wins: 0 (1 presidential defeat) holyfield  age: 52  weight: 226 pounds  height 6ft 2in  reach: 78 inches  wins: 44  the event is a black tie occasion that will also feature fights between professional boxers holyfield famously had part of his ear bitten off in a fight with mike tyson in 1997 it's doubtful romney will resort to such dirty tactics in may holyfield has since rebuilt his relationship with tyson and they recently appeared at village east cinema in new york for a screening of new documentary champs, which tells their story, and that of bernard hopkins directed by bert marcus, champs focuses on the aforementioned trio's rise from poverty to the top of the sport holyfield last fought in 2011 the lack of practice isn't likely to prevent victory in the next one tyson and holyfield pose for photographs almost 20 years after their infamous rematch 
holyfield may salt lake city 1997 mike tyson
former presidential nominee will fight holyfield in salt lake city in may  'it will either be a very short fight, or i'll be knocked out'   romney  holyfield had part of his ear bitten off in a fight with mike tyson in 1997 