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Mike Tyson showed glimpses of his destructive prime Saturday night as the 54-year-old boxing icon returned to the ring for a spirited exhibition fight with 51-year-old Roy Jones Jr.
Both fighters had impressive moments during a fight that the WBC in-ring judges unofficially ruled as a draw. Tyson and Jones fought eight two-minute rounds and both emerged smiling and seemingly healthy from a very unusual event at Staples Center.
“This is better than fighting for championships,” Tyson said of the heavyweight display, which raised money for various charities. “Now we are humanitarian. We can do something good for the world. We have to do this again. “
The former heavyweight champion of the world returned to the ring after a 15-year absence attracted international attention, and Iron Mike did his best to show the form that made him a legend to a generation of boxing fans. Tyson hit Jones with body shots and a handful of blows to the head during a fight that the California State Athletic Commission required to be a fairly safe and glorious sparring session.
“The body shots definitely took a toll,” said Jones, the former four-division world champion who is considered the most skilled fighter of his generation. “It’s something to take the blows Mike throws. I’m fine with a draw. Maybe we can do it again. “
Jones walked into the ring in gloves and briefs honoring Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, while Tyson sported his signature all-black boxer shorts. After traditional pre-fight pomp and an introduction from Michael Buffer, the 50-something champs came out throwing punches that evoked echoes of their glorious best moments.
They were frequently tied indoors as well, and their occasionally labored breathing could be heard over the microphones in the empty arena.
Hip hop star Snoop Dogg’s witty TV commentary was one of the loudest noises inside Staples, and it had a handful of gossip: “This is like two of my uncles fighting at the barbecue!”
Tyson and Jones were the headliners at the most unlikely pay-per-view boxing event in years, designed by the social media app Triller and featuring fights interspersed with hip hop performances in an empty arena.
The event was derided as an unsportsmanlike spectacle by some critics, yet both Tyson and Jones appeared to be handled with skill and confidence. Fans were clearly in love, with the show garnering enormous traction on social media.
“I hit you with some good shots, and you took it,” Tyson said. “I respect that.”
In the co-main event, YouTube star Jake Paul knocked out former NBA player Nate Robinson, stopped in the second round of Robinson’s professional boxing debut. Paul, in his second professional fight, recorded three knockdowns against Robinson, the three-time NBA Slam Dunk competition champion, before an overhead right hand knocked Robinson flat on his face and apparently unconscious.
Tyson retired from boxing in 2005, saying he already had “the fighting guts or the heart” after resigning in a sad loss to officer Kevin McBride. Finally freed from the relentless pressure of his sport, Tyson gradually straightened out his life, kicking off a self-described drug addiction and eventually succeeding in acting, theater, charity work, and even growing marijuana while he settled into a comfortable family life in Las Vegas with his third wife. and his sons.
The idea of a return to boxing seemed preposterous, but Tyson started towards this unlikely fight when he started doing 15 minutes a day on a treadmill a few years ago at the urging of his wife in an attempt to lose 100 pounds. Workouts soon turned into multi-hour affairs that included biking, running, and finally punching as he regained some of his best athleticism through discipline and a vegan diet.
Tyson posted a video of himself hitting pads on social media at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, and the overwhelming public response led to several lucrative offers for a return to the ring. With the opportunity to earn money for himself and for charity, Tyson finally agreed, but had to find an opponent.
Jones fought steadily until he was 40, but thought he was done with the sport after winning his last fight in 2018. He couldn’t resist the opportunity to face Tyson after the greats never met during their early professional careers because Tyson was a heavyweight. and Jones was primarily a light heavyweight (175 pounds).
Tyson and Jones negotiated with the California commission on the limitations of their fight, eventually reaching eight two-minute rounds of tough combat with only a ceremonial trial and no official winner. The WBC still stepped in to award a ceremonial ‘Frontline Battle Belt’ to both fighters.
