Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr.

Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. is an upcoming exhibition boxing match contested between former undisputed heavyweight world champion, Mike Tyson, and former four-division world champion, Roy Jones Jr. The bout is scheduled to take place on November 28, 2020, at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. The bout will be officially sanctioned by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC).

Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr.
DateNovember 28, 2020
VenueDignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California, U.S.
Tale of the tape
Boxer Mike Tyson Roy Jones Jr.
Nickname Iron Mike
Hometown New York City, New York, U.S. Pensacola, Florida, U.S.
Pre-fight record 50–6 (44 KOs) 66–9 (47 KOs)
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition Former undisputed heavyweight champion Former IBF middleweight, IBF super middleweight, undisputed light heavyweight, and WBA heavyweight champion

Background

Mike Tyson

A year after retiring, Tyson announced in September 2006 that he would embark on a world tour of exhibition fights, billed as "Mike Tyson's World Tour", in a bid to overcome the debt he was in at the time. The first bout took place on October 20, 2006, at the Chevrolet Centre in Youngstown, Ohio, against former professional boxer and sparring partner, Corey Sanders (not to be confused with the South African former world heavyweight champion Corrie Sanders), in a four-round bout.[1] With 6,000 fans in attendance, the fight failed to live up to expectations, with the crowd often booing with displeasure.[2] This would be the only exhibition fight of the tour to take place.[3]

Tyson first mentioned the idea of returning to exhibition fights in an April 2020 YouTube interview with rapper T.I., saying, "I want to go to the gym and get in shape to be able to box three or four-round exhibitions for some charities and stuff".[4] He further teased a potential return to the ring in early May 2020, posting two short videos online of himself training via his Instagram account, declaring at the end of the video, "I'm back". He later explained in a Facebook livestream, "Anything's possible. I feel unstoppable now. The gods of war have reawakened me, ignited my ego and want me to go to war again. I feel like I'm [young] again."[5]

Roy Jones Jr.

Jones' last bout of his 29 year career took place on February 8, 2018, defeating Scott Sigmon via unanimous decision at the Bay Center In Pensacola, Florida. Jones announced his retirement after the bout, but left the door open for a return against UFC fighter Anderson Silva, saying, "Dana, I know you're listening. I know Anderson's suspended. But that's the only other fight Roy Jones will return to the ring for. Other than that, chapter's closed."[6]

Offers

Following his Instagram videos and Facebook livestream, Tyson was contacted by Australian boxing promoter Brian Amatruda with an offer of $1m to face former Australian rules footballer-turned-boxer Barry Hall, former rugby league player-turned-boxer Paul Gallen, or New Zealand's former rugby player-turned-boxer Sonny Bill Williams in an exhibition fight.[7] According to celebrity agent Max Markson, who was acting as the middleman between Amatruda and Tyson's team, Tyson called the offer "an insult to boxing", with Markson saying, "Mike read the story (in the Daily Mail) that he would be fighting a rugby player. He has said he would not do that as it would be an insult to boxing. He says if he does get back into the ring it will be with a real boxer."[8]

Other offers came from David Feldman—president of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC)—for $20m to fight an opponent of Tyson's choosing, providing that opponent be under contract with the BKFC,[9] and from Peter Czymor—president of Boston Boxing Promotions—for $1.1m to face former conqueror Peter McNeeley, who beat Tyson in his final professional bout.[10]

Six days after Tyson posted his training videos, Evander Holyfield posted his own video with the caption of: "Are you ready? The moment you've all been waiting for...The Champ is back." In an interview with BoxingScene.com Holyfield expressed his desire to meet Tyson in the ring, saying, "I’ve already done what I wanted to do in my career, and have been the best that I could be. If it wasn’t for charity, I wouldn’t fight Tyson, I don’t look at it as being a winner in this fight. This is a charity event helping our foundations. The thing is knowing what you’re doing it for."[3]

Signed deal between Tyson and Jones

After two months of negotiations between Tyson and Holyfield failed to materialize a deal, it was announced on July 23 that Jones had signed a contract to face Tyson, with the exhibition initially scheduled to take place on September 12, at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, with professional boxers to appear on the undercard.[11] In August, it was announced the date had been pushed back to November 28, in order to maximize the revenue for the event.[12] The event will be officially sanctioned by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC). Both fighters will be required to submit CSAC medical tests for fighters over 40, and the referee will be under specific instructions to stop the match if it goes beyond "the boundaries of a competitive boxing exhibition."[13]

Fight card
Weight Class vs. Method Round Time Notes
Heavyweight Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. 8 Note 1
Cruiserweight Jake Paul vs. Nate Robinson 6 Note 2
Light heavyweight Badou Jack vs. Blake McKernan 8
Cruiserweight Viddal Riley vs. Rashad Coulter 6

^Note 1 Exhibition fight
^Note 2 Robinson's professional debut

References
  1. Rafael, Dan (September 28, 2006). "Cash-strapped Tyson announces exhibition tour". ESPN. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  2. Rozenberg, Sammy (October 21, 2006). "Tyson Happy With Exhibition, Fans Are Not". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  3. Akopyan, Manouk (May 8, 2020). "Evander Holyfield Wants To Fight Mike Tyson In Exhibition For Charity". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  4. Dawson, Alan (April 25, 2020). "Mike Tyson wants to return to the ring and 'box some exhibitions'". Insider. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  5. Allen, Kim (May 12, 2020). "Mike Tyson prepares for potential return to boxing ring, releasing a training video that says 'I'm Back'". CNN. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  6. Kerai, Husmukh (February 9, 2018). "Roy Jones Jr ends career with win over Scott Sigmon; but issues challenge for 'only other fight' he wants". Sky Sports. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  7. "Mike Tyson Has Offer of $1 Million For Exhibition Against Gallen, Williams or Hall". BoxingScene.com. May 6, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  8. "Mike Tyson Views SBW Fight as "Insult To Boxing" - Wants Real Boxer". BoxingScene.com. May 10, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  9. "Mike Tyson Offered $20 Million By Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship". BoxingScene.com. May 7, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  10. "Mike Tyson Offered $1.1 Million For Peter McNeeley Rematch". BoxingScene.com. May 29, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  11. Kim, Steve (July 23, 2020). "Tyson-Jones Jr. exhibition match set for Sept. 12". ESPN. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  12. Brookhouse, Brent (August 11, 2020). "Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. exhibition fight delayed to Nov. 28, new undercard bouts announced". CBS Sports. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  13. Dielhenn, James (August 10, 2020). "Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr exhibition bout postponed, according to reports in the US". Sky Sports. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
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