Hide your ears… 

Heavyweight boxing legend Mike Tyson has revealed he is heading to Dubai next month to make a big announcement.

The 50-year-old former champion – widely regarded as one of the scariest boxers of all time – will be holding a press conference on May 4 (aka Star Wars Day), in which he will announce his new international business venture.

He will be launching a global gym franchise called the Mike Tyson Academy, which will incorporate both fitness and boxing.

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The press conference is set to take place at what Tyson described as the “monumental” Burj Khalifa (a fitting location for a legend, we must say).

Asked why he chose Dubai as the place to make the announcement, Tyson said: “Dubai has established itself on the world map by hosting many leading sporting events and icons and there is definitely a niche in this market for a fitness centre that is associated with quality and driven by a hard-core, challenging philosophy like mine.

“I am positive that this is going to be only the beginning of a long-running successful association between myself and the region.”

The academy has apparently already garnered international interest, and is looking to open in the Middle East, Australia, France, West Africa and China.

Centres will feature cardio, strength, functional training and boxing. There will be a full-scale boxing ring in every location, and a host of group training classes.

Tyson visited the UAE for the first time in 2013, performing his one-man show Undisputed Truth, directed by Spike Lee.

When asked by Sports Talk if Dubai was “his cup of tea”, the boxer said: “It could be, it’s nice, it’s beautiful… it’s overwhelming.” 

See you soon Mike, we’ll make sure to put the kettle on…

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