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Mike Tyson, the previous world heavyweight champion who retired in 2005, mentioned Thursday he’ll make a comeback at age 54, combating Roy Jones Jr. on September 12 in Los Angeles. On his Legends Only League web site, Tyson introduced the eight-round exhibition bout in opposition to Jones, a 51-year-old fighter who briefly held the heavyweight title and has fought constantly into his 50s.
“It’s just going to be amazing,” Tyson mentioned on a video name on ESPN.
Tyson shrugged off any notion of hazard for severe harm for himself or Jones, saying that California guidelines would require they each put on headgear for the battle.
“We’re both accomplished fighters,” Mike Tyson mentioned. “We know how to protect 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 might be aggressive moderately than for present — “we’re showing our skills and fighting” — and mentioned he needs to recapture the fearsome type he as soon as displayed.
“It’s 100% of it looking to be Mike Tyson in the ring,” Tyson mentioned. “I’ve got one speed — forward.”
In a battle for the aged, Tyson mentioned he needs to point out older can nonetheless imply thrilling within the sports activities realm.
“It’s because I can do it and I believe other people believe they can do it,” Tyson mentioned. “We aren’t washed up. Somebody says over-age is washed up but they have a bigger fan base than the guys who are training now.”
Tyson envisions elder statesmen occasions of combined martial arts and NBA fame, mentioning such former NBA stars as Dennis Rodman and Allen Iverson.
Tyson turned 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.
Within a 12 months, Tyson was the undisputed champion and dominated the division, incomes his nickname as “The Baddest Man on the Planet” and going 37-0.
But 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, dropping to Britain’s Lennox Lewis in 2002, and retired after six rounds in opposition to Kevin McBride in 2005 in his remaining battle, days shy of his 39th birthday.
“I’ve been through some experiences and now I’m back here,” Tyson mentioned. “I’ve taken care of my body.”
Jones has completed a lot the identical since successful 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 Association heavyweight title, a crown he by no means defended earlier than rejoining the sunshine heavyweight ranks.
Jones fought no less than every year into 2018 however has spent extra time as a commentator than a fighter in recent times.
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