Former presidential candidate predicts similar outcome in charity boxing match against ex-heavyweight champion as in electoral battle with Barack Obama

Evander Holyfield and Mitt Romney strip down for boxing's fight of the century Read more

Mitt Romney and Evander Holyfield weighed in for their charity boxing match on Thursday night, with the former Massachusetts governor predicting a similar outcome to that of the 2012 presidential election, which he lost to Barack Obama.

“I expect to be beaten but unbowed,” he said.

Romney, 68, was scheduled to fight the five-time world heavyweight champion, who is 52, first on a Friday fight night card to benefit CharityVision, which helps doctors in developing countries treat curable blindness. His son Josh is volunteer president of the organisation, which hopes to raise $1,000,000. The rest of the bouts on the card feature genuine boxers.

Speaking to the New York Times ahead of the weigh-in, Romney said the three-round fight in Salt Lake City, in which he and Holyfield will wear full protective gear, would be “a modest performance in more ways than one”.

Asked how he was preparing himself for his pugilistic debut, Romney, who has made three unsuccessful runs for national office – for president in 2008 and 2012 and for the Senate against Ted Kennedy in 1994 – drew on parallel experiences from a political career which also included stewarding the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics of 2002. Having maintained a national profile since his defeat by Obama, while building a home near Salt Lake City and registering as a Utah voter, he briefly considered a third run for the White House.

“I do remember Newt Gingrich and I, during a debate, we were talking about Rick Perry,” he said, referring to the former House speaker and the former governor of Texas respectively, two opponents in the 2012 Republican primaries. “And Newt Gingrich said to me, ‘You know, Rick is a good guy, but he doesn’t know how to dance.’

“Newt meant dance around tough questions and then make them work to your advantage. And he complimented me on my ability to dance. So I will be doing a bit of dancing and dodging Friday night.”

Holyfield, who retired from the ring in 2012, twice fought for the heavyweight title of the world against Mike Tyson. In the second bout, “Iron Mike” famously bit off part of Holyfield’s ear.

The buildup to his latest challenge, therefore, came replete with ear-based banter. In a promotional video, Romney said: “It’s true, I don’t have much of a right hook, but when I get somebody’s ear, I can be pretty formidable.”

Asked by Mark Leibovich of the Times if he would “make like Mike Tyson and attempt to feast on Holyfield’s ear”, he said: “I’m staying far away from his ears. I don’t for a moment want for him to confuse me with anyone from his past.”

Mention of a figure from Romney’s past in frontline politics, the former amateur boxer and current Senate minority leader, Harry Reid, prompted Romney to issue an unlikely challenge.

“I did not ask Harry for advice,” Romney said of the Nevada Democrat. “But if I’m successful in the bout with Evander, then my next bout is going to be with Harry.”