Boxing legends Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. will battle in an exhibition fight on Saturday, September 12. The two fighters will box in an eight-round bout that sees them clash in a unique contest. Tyson, 54, and Jones, 51, are expected to don headgear and larger sized gloves in the exhibition bout. Boxing fans can visit Wunderdog as the bout nears to get the latest picks and prediction on the boxer that will win.
Jones hasn’t fought since February 2018 when he defeated Scott Sigmon for the vacant WBU Cruiserweight title. The fight was Jones’s 75th and pushed his record to 66-9. Jones has had itchy feet since announcing his departure from the ring. He called out mixed martial arts fighter Anderson Silva for a crossover fight akin to the one that Connor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather contested.
Although Jones hasn’t fought in over two years, the Florida-native competed in 23 bouts following Tyson’s last fight. Tyson last boxed professionally in June 2005, when he lost to Kevin McBride. It was Tyson’s second straight loss having tasted defeat against Danny Williams 12 months prior.
Tyson was a shadow of his former self in those defeats. The man that fought his way to the top of the heavyweight game in the late 1980s was not on display in those final fights. Having been out of the boxing game for over 15 years, there are worries that putting himself in the ring again could be detrimental to Tyson’s — and Jones for that matter – health.
Former boxing World Heavyweight Champion George Foreman has expressed his fears over Tyson getting hurt in the bout. Foreman fought into his last 40s and even admitted to considering a return to the ring in his 50s.
Chris Eubank Jr is training Jones for the big exhibition match. As the fight is considered an exhibition, it is unknow just how serious the two legends will take it. Due Jones having been in the ring more recently than Tyson, it is believed he could be more competitive if the boxers take it up a notch.
Over the last few months, Tyson has posted training videos online. His strong sparing led to viewers speculating over a return to the ring. That return has now been confirmed for September in Los Angeles. While Foreman expressed concern over the fighters’ health, British boxer Anthony Joshua stated Tyson’s training videos make him look like he will dominate the heavyweight boxing division. Tyson has spent much of his time in recent years appearing in films. After going bankrupt and losing much, if not all, of his boxing fortune, Tyson regained his financial might thanks to films and owning a cannabis farm.
The lack of sports and high-profile fights taking place globally has led to the fight’s quick set-up. Both fighters are to begin training camp on August 1 for the exhibition bout. Tyson will appear in his first fight in over a decade and neither fighter will want to damage their legendary reputations.
