Lenny Dykstra to fight Jose Canseco

Updated: November 2, 2011, 1:20 PM ET
By Mike Mazzeo | ESPNNewYork.com

Lenny Dykstra claims Jose Canseco ruined his baseball career. And the former New York Mets outfielder plans to seek retribution in the boxing ring.

The celebrity fight between the two ex-major leaguers will take place Saturday at the Avalon Hollywood in California, according to a news release issued Wednesday morning.

Tareq Salahi, the White House party crasher, was originally supposed to fight Canseco.

"Canseco ruined my career by spreading lies. I called Tareq and begged him to let me take his place in the upcoming fight against Canseco," Dykstra said in statement.

The event, which will stream live on FilmOn.com at 9 p.m. Saturday, features two players with ties to baseball's infamous steroid era. Canseco, 47, admitted in two tell-all books to using steroids during his career, which ended in 2001.

Dykstra, 48, was named in the Mitchell Report on the use of steroids and other performance-enhancing substances in baseball. The report was issued in 2007, 11 years after Dykstra retired.

Last month, Dykstra pleaded no contest to on charges of auto theft and providing a false financial statement. He faces up to four years in prison as part of a plea deal.

In March, Canseco was accused of sending his twin brother, Ozzie, to fight in his place for a celebrity boxing event in Florida.

EDITORS' PICKS

  • Feeding The Fever
    An ailing Josh Hamilton adds to his legend with walk-off shot in 13th inning.
  • Rare Air
    Jason Dufner has DFW golf history in sights, but Zach Johnson stands in way.
  • Deal Or No Deal
    Don't expect the Cowboys to trade Mike Jenkins, who can still fill a role.
  • Stinging Streak
    Real Salt Lake's tiebreaker in stoppage time adds sting to FCD's nine-game skid.
  • Finish What He Started
    Neftali Feliz wants to return to the rotation when he comes off the DL.

ALSO SEE