[ad_1]
Mike Tyson’s return to boxing at age 54 led to a draw with 51-year-old Roy Jones Jr. on Saturday in an eight-round exhibition battle of former heavyweight champions. Fifteen years after retiring with a 2005 loss to journeyman Kevin McBride, Tyson made his comeback at Staples Center in Los Angeles with out spectators in a pay-per-view matchup that combined curiosity and nostalgia. California State Athletic Commission officers required two-minute rounds as a substitute of the same old three-minute rounds, mandated bigger than regular 12-ounce gloves, stated neither fighter might search a knockout and declared there might be no official winner in security strikes for the over-50 fighters.
“Sometimes that two minutes felt like three minutes,” Tyson stated. “I’m glad I got this under my belt and I’m looking forward to doing it again.”
An “unofficial” panel of former World Boxing Council champions at ringside scored the bout a draw, an end result that Tyson applauded regardless of showing to dominate.
“I’m good with that,” Tyson stated, admitting he thought he had gained the combat. “Yeah, but I’m good with a draw. The crowd was happy with that.”
Jones, who appeared drained and grabbed Tyson a lot of the combat, was sad at a draw.
“I ain’t never happy with a draw. I dont do draw,” Jones stated, admitting that Tyson harm him all through the bout, notably with physique blows.
“If he hits you with his head, punches, body shots, it don’t matter, everything hurts. Body shots definitely took a toll. Body shots are what makes you exhausted.”
Tyson, who entered 50-6 with 44 knockouts, misplaced 100 kilos and commenced coaching once more, his want to get again in form turning into a starvation to strap on the gloves as soon as extra.
Jones, who entered 66-9 with 47 knockouts, had not fought since a February 2018 cruiserweight victory. He hoped a stable effort towards Tyson would possibly arrange a combat with 45-year-old Brazilian combined martial arts star Anderson Silva.
– ‘It’s going to harm’ –
Tyson got here out aggressive and quick, swinging and connecting usually to the physique of Jones, who was in a position to hit and evade at occasions, then hugging Tyson usually when all else failed.
“You came back. I hit you with good shots and you took it,” Tyson informed Jones. “We have to do this again.”
A tough left to the top stung Jones in spherical two and he spent a lot of the third and fourth rounds holding and shifting into clenches with Tyson.
“It’s something in there taking punches from Mike,” Jones stated. “Once I go in there, I’m game. I’ll go to the end. I know when he hits me it’s going to hurt.”
Tyson landed an inside proper and a tough left to the top of Jones within the fifth spherical, then linked to the physique with a stable proper and left within the sixth, Jones evading a proper uppercut and tying up Tyson earlier than he might land main combos.
Tyson stung the midsection of Jones in spherical seven however was held earlier than he might press the benefit.
In the eighth and remaining spherical, Tyson pounded a pair of left hooks to the physique however Jones tied him up they usually completed buying and selling inside punches.
“I was very happy to go the eight rounds,” Tyson stated. “I’m more happy with going the distance.
“I used to be afraid I would get harm. Why is no one fearful about my ass? I have never performed this in 15 years.
Tyson dominated the heavyweight division in overwhelming style within the late 1980s however struggled via the 1990s, dropping his title, being convicted of rape and serving a ban after biting a bit out of Evander Holyfield’s ear.
Promoted
He light from the scene after a 2002 world title loss to Lennox Lewis and has returned now to assist launch his Legends Only League for over-age star athletes.
“This is bigger than fighting for championships,” Tyson declared. “I’m helping people now.”
Topics talked about on this article
(This story has not been edited by Newslivenation employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)