Mike Tyson ties with Roy Jones Jr as heavyweight legends return to ring

Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr worked to achieve a predictable draw when boxing legends returned to the ring for an exhibition fight.

Tyson, who was fighting 15 years after his last professional outing, dominated for long periods at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Jones, 51, who only retired in 2018, was content to hold on for as long as it lasted and rarely hit his 54-year-old opponent.

Tyson should have gotten the go-ahead from the three former world champion judges after eight two-minute rounds, but instead the fight was tied.

Tyson said, “I’m good with that. I’m good with a draw because I entertained the crowd and the crowd was happy with it.

“I’m used to doing it for three minutes. I hope to go further, absolutely, and he can be on the card too.

“I was very happy to be here, despite what everyone says, I was happy to go to eight rounds.

“No one thought you could go to eight rounds, but you have to go all the way, that’s boxing.”

Tyson took the fight to Jones in the first round and the little ring played into his hands as he shifted from head to body as Jones looked to hold.

Both men were gasping for air after the opening salvo, but Tyson continued to look fresher in the second session when he landed his blow to the head and then followed up with a right hand.

Jones insisted on holding out in the third round while smothering Tyson and preventing him from firing. The fight resembled a hugging match at times with Tyson the only one looking to land his shots in the fourth session.

Tyson was sharper again in the fifth round when he landed a counter left hook and Jones gasped as he headed back to his corner.

Round six was instantly forgettable as Jones struggled with his fitness, but Tyson was able to land on the body in the penultimate session.

Tyson connected to the body in the final round, but Jones held on to hear the bell before the decision was finally announced.

It later emerged that Christy Martin gave Tyson the nod 79-73, Vinny Pazienza opted for Jones by a score of 80-76 while Chad Dawson scored the level 76-76.

Both men seemed ready to continue fighting, either against each other or against new opponents.

Jones said, “We have to do this again. Everybody loves Mike; I love Mike too, but it’s more than just getting hit by Mike.”

“I’ll go talk to my family, see how they feel about it and if they want to do it again, we will do it again.”

On the undercard, YouTube star Jake Paul gave a disgusting KO against former NBA star Nate Robinson.

Paul was fighting for the second time as a professional and dropped Robinson with his right hand.

And when he did it for the third time, the former basketball player was left face down on the mat and needed a long treatment.

Previously, former two-weight world champion Badou Jack won every round against the tough but outclassed Blake McKernan.

There were also wins for the impressive Jamaine Ortiz who stopped Sulaiman Segawa and for Edward Vasquez, who earned a split decision victory over Irvin Gonzalez.