When it comes to Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield is apparently all ears.

And when it comes to the possibility of Tyson/Holyfield III, sports fans all around the world are listening.

The question is whether we should be?

Holyfield admitted this week that he has been approached by Iron Mike about a possible third fight between the two and suggested that he might consider such a deal.

Now, far be it from me to suggest something cynical, but the timing of the news might conceivably have a tad of a smidgen to do with the fact Holyfield has a new book coming out soon.

I mean, he hasn’t exactly been front and center on “SportsCenter” in a while and there’s nothing in boxing circles that will perk our ears to attention quite like the mention of Tyson/Holyfield, now is there?

Especially in light of last weekend’s drivel, otherwise known as Klitschko/Ibragimov.

On the other hand, if the fight does go through, it would be an absolute freak show and a shame, and like most sports fans with any honesty out there, I’ll be first in line to watch.

I’m sorry, but I can’t help myself.

This isn’t just like watching a car accident as you drive by, unable to look away, it’s more like watching the mother of all accidents, on steroids, complete with bells and whistles and dancing bands and ticker-tape parades.

Tyson is a sad figure, a very, very poor role model and arguably one of the greatest wastes of talent in the history of sports.

However, he is also the most fascinating sports star of the past quarter century – with the exception of Tiger Woods – and that’s a direct result of his persona.

Despite his shortcomings and aggressive, deluded demeanor, it is actually difficult to hate the guy, mostly because he’s little more laughable for the past decade-plus (although he’s certainly not funny), and a person more deserving of pity than any animosity.

Tyson’s reign of terror was short and sweet. He became the youngest heavyweight world champion of all time with the sort of dominating performances that the sport had never seen before, and resembled a sort of frenzied Tasmanian Devil every time he took the ring.

But it didn’t last more than a couple of years.

The fact is he was finished as a top-notch boxer the day he lost to Buster Douglas – which is still the biggest sporting upset in my lifetime, bar none – and he had begun to lose direction the day his mentor and the only father figure he ever knew – Cus D’Amato – died, shortly before he became champion of the world.

But every step of the way, every sad little slip from grace, every step back from what the rest of the world would deem sanity, we’ve all watched. Fascinated. Bewildered. Unable to look away.

As for whether he should be considered the greatest heavyweight of all-time? It’s not even close, and the fact is he would never have dominated the way he did had he fought 15 or 20 years earlier, when names like Ali, Foreman and Frazier highlighted the division’s most glorious era.

But having said that, there’s not a person on the planet who doesn’t know who Mike Tyson is, and there are only a handful of sports stars you can truly say that about.

At 41, however, Tyson is out of shape, unmotivated (outside of for money) and no longer has either the love for the sport nor the drive to succeed. He has said so himself many times.

His recent fights have been pathetic and a far, far cry from the days he terrorized the heavyweight division.

He’s also a lot more mellow than he was 20 years ago and, to the best of my knowledge, has not threatened to eat any children at all now in several years.

Wow! Talk about maturity.

But he is broke and owes the government somewhere in the region of $30 million, and that’s motivation enough.

And seeing as the whole boy band thing didn’t work out for him (he actually tried to record a duet with Westlife, one of Britain’s most successful boy bands a few years ago, but the members of the band politely declined), what else is there for him to do?

And besides, he’s only bitten one of Holyfield’s ears off, and that leaves at least one more for him to take care of.

It might sound ludicrous, and it would probably be nothing more than sad to watch, but make no mistake about it, the possibility of Tyson/Holyfield is food for thought.

(Opinions expressed in columns do not necessarily reflect those of The Eureka Reporter.)