Mike Tyson, the previous world heavyweight champion who retired in 2005, stated Thursday he’ll make a comeback at age 54, preventing Roy Jones Jr. on September 12 in Los Angeles. On his Legends Solely League web site, Tyson introduced the eight-round exhibition bout towards Jones, a 51-year-old fighter who briefly held the heavyweight title and has fought persistently into his 50s.
“It is simply going to be superb,” Tyson stated on a video name on ESPN.
Tyson shrugged off any notion of hazard for critical harm for himself or Jones, saying that California guidelines would require they each put on headgear for the combat.
“We’re each completed fighters,” Mike Tyson stated. “We all know shield ourselves. We’ll be alright.”
Tyson completed 50-6 with 44 knockouts whereas Jones, who final fought in February 2018, is 66-9 with 47 knockouts.
Tyson vowed it could be aggressive quite than for present — “we’re exhibiting our abilities and preventing” — and stated he desires to recapture the fearsome kind he as soon as displayed.
“It is 100% of it trying to be Mike Tyson within the ring,” Tyson stated. “I’ve bought one velocity — ahead.”
In a battle for the aged, Tyson stated he desires to point out older can nonetheless imply thrilling within the sports activities realm.
“It is as a result of I can do it and I imagine different individuals imagine they will do it,” Tyson stated. “We aren’t washed up. Any person says over-age is washed up however they’ve an even bigger fan base than the blokes who’re coaching now.”
Tyson envisions elder statesmen occasions of blended martial arts and NBA fame, mentioning such former NBA stars as Dennis Rodman and Allen Iverson.
Tyson grew to become the youngest heavyweight champion in historical past at 20 years and 4 months when he stopped Trevor Berbick within the second spherical in 1986 to win the World Boxing Council crown.
Inside a yr, Tyson was the undisputed champion and dominated the division, incomes his nickname as “The Baddest Man on the Planet” and going 37-Zero.
However in February 1990 at Tokyo, Tyson suffered a 10th-round knockout by the hands of James “Buster” Douglas in a surprising upset.
‘Taken care of my physique’
He was arrested for rape in 1991 and convicted in 1992, serving three years in jail earlier than his 1995 launch and return to the ring.
Tyson regained the title however misplaced twice to Evander Holyfield, disqualified the second time for biting his rival’s ear, incomes a suspension that saved him sidelined for 18 months.
He had one final probability on the heavyweight crown, shedding to Britain’s Lennox Lewis in 2002, and retired after six rounds towards Kevin McBride in 2005 in his closing combat, days shy of his 39th birthday.
“I have been by way of some experiences and now I am again right here,” Tyson stated. “I’ve taken care of my physique.”
Jones has completed a lot the identical since profitable his first middleweight title in 1993 and rolled by way of the tremendous middleweight and lightweight heavyweight ranks at 49-1 earlier than dropping three fights in a row in 2004-2005.
Promoted
His championship run included a 2003 victory over John Ruiz for the World Boxing Affiliation heavyweight title, a crown he by no means defended earlier than rejoining the sunshine heavyweight ranks.
Jones fought at the very least annually into 2018 however has spent extra time as a commentator than a fighter in recent times.
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