Mike Tyson didn’t say he’d box Algerian Imane Khelif

Misinformation about Algerian boxer and Paris Olympics competitor Imane Khelif’s gender continues to prevail on social media. The latest jab: That American boxer Mike Tyson offered to fight her.  

"Mike Tyson says he’s willing to box Olympic DUDE with all proceeds to go to a battered women’s charity," an Aug. 2 Threads post said, sharing side-by-side photos of Tyson Khelif. 

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A Tyson representative didn’t immediately respond to PolitiFact’s questions about the post. But someone from Tyson’s camp told Lead Stories on Aug. 6 that it’s "absolutely false."

We searched for evidence that Tyson made any such remark, such as credible news stories, public statements or Tyson’s social media posts, and found none. We saw no remarks from Tyson about Khelif.

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stated on July 11, 2024 in social media posts

BBC News published a graphic quoting President Joe Biden saying, “Let me say this as clearly and simply as I can: [inaudible].”

Khelif was "born female, was registered female, liver her life as a female, boxed as a female, has a female passport," International Olympic Committee Spokesperson Mark Adams said Aug. 2. 

Many claims about Khelif lack context. The Russian-led International Boxing Association disqualified Khelif from the 2023 World Championships, saying she failed to meet the eligibility requirements to compete in women’s sports because DNA tests purportedly showed she had XY chromosomes. 

But the International Olympic Committee no longer recognizes the International Boxing Association. The Boxing Unit, which the International Olympic Committee set up and which handled eligibility for boxing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, affirmed Khelif could compete.

We rate this post False.