Tag Archives: Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson: 220.4 Pounds, Roy Jones Jr: 210 Pounds – Ready For Showdown Tomorrow Night
By: Hans Themistode
Former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and former four-division titlist Roy Jones Jr. proved that they’re taking their eight-round exhibition matchup tomorrow extremely seriously.
With a few additional months to build up the anticipation for their showdown, both Tyson and Jones Jr. stepped onto the scale in the best shape that their plus 50-year-old bodies could muster.
Unlike Tyson’s last appearance on the boxing scale where he weighed 233 pounds a decade and a half ago for his contest against Kevin McBride, Tyson trimmed down his physique and came in at 220.4 pounds.
Jones Jr. on the other hand, a former heavyweight champion with his majority decision win over John Ruiz in 2003, packed on the extra muscle as he tipped the scale at 210 pounds. Even in Jones Jr.’s lone trip to the heavyweight division, the future first ballot hall of famer kept his weight down as he checked in at 193 pounds.
With both men appearing in fairly good shape, the stage has been set for a contest to take place that was 20 years in the making.
In 2003, following his win over Ruiz, a matchup between Jones Jr. and Tyson was on the verge of becoming a reality. However, due to financial reasons, amongst many, their contest never took shape. Had they solved their differences and met inside of the ring, Jones Jr. was expected to have his hand raised as he was tabbed as the slight favorite.
Fast forward nearly 20 years later though, and it is Jones Jr. who is viewed as the prohibited underdog. Much of the betting public’s insistence in backing Tyson stems from Jones Jr.’s numerous knockout losses over the years, coupled with the impressive workout video’s Tyson has dropped on his social media accounts over the past several months.
Although both Tyson and Jones Jr. have sold their showdown as an official contest, their Pay-Per-View matchup will have several different factors from the norm.
For one, instead of the traditional 10-ounce gloves worn by heavyweights, the two all-time greats will be sporting 12-ounce gloves instead. Also, knockouts are prohibited, although Triller co-owner Ryan Kavanaugh has said that knockouts will be allowed.
In order to protect both fighters from serious injury, the first sign of a cut will end their bout entirely. Also, there have been conflicting reports that an official winner will not be announced. The last of their rule change is that unlike normal men’s boxing matches that feature three minute rounds, their showdown will feature two minute rounds instead. As long as one shot does not end the night prematurely, their bout is scheduled to last eight rounds.
To witness their highly-anticipated showdown, viewers will be able to tune in on the Triller app or their website as well as on other various platforms this Saturday at 9 p.m Eastern time.
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Ryan Kavanaugh, Co-owner Of The Triller App, Sets The Record Straight On Tyson vs Jones Jr: “There Could Be A Knockout And There Will Be One Winner”
By: Hans Themistode
With confusion mounting surrounding former all-time great’s Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. and their highly-anticipated showdown which will air on the Triller app this Saturday night, Ryan Kavanaugh, co-owner of the Triller app, has made things crystal clear.
“Know there have been some false rumors swirling, so to be clear,” said Kavanaugh in a recent statement. “The WBC is scoring the fight. There could be a knockout and there will be one winner. Anyone who says there is no judging or no winner either does not understand the rules or has their own agenda. Unquestionably, 100 percent. DraftKings is the betting partner and is taking bets on the fight in New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Illinois. The only difference is the fight is the gloves are 12 ounces, there are eight rounds and the rounds are two minutes rather than three. That is it.”
Kavanaugh’s need to clarify the rules between Tyson and Jones Jr. stems from Andy Foster, executive director of the California State Athletic Commission, and his insistence on promoting Tyson vs Jones Jr. as a safe sparring match.
“Let’s call it an exhibition,” explained Foster during an interview several months ago. “That’s what it is. I want the public to know what this is because I don’t want people to be disappointed. As long as they know this is an exhibition, I’m fine for everybody to earn. … There’s no official judges. The WBC is going to have some guest celebrity judges remotely, not official, not 10-9 [scores], nothing like that. No cumulative score. No winner announced. That’s a very entertainment centered thing. It’s about entertainment. It’s not about competition. … It is what it is and it’s not more than it is but it’s going to be fun.”
Recently, amongst the long set of rules to ensure both fighter’s safety, Foster has also stated that if either fighter suffers a cut, that their bout will immediately come to an end.
While Kavanaugh is fully behind the safety of each fighter, who are well into their 50’s, he continued to push the narrative that Tyson vs Jones Jr. will in fact be a full-fledged fight and not an eccentric matchup.
“We have nothing but the utmost respect for Andy (Foster) and everyone at (the California State Athletic Commission). For total clarity we are not implying that CSAC is picking a winner or scoring this, WBC is doing both. WBC is scoring under a 10-9, and a knockout will be a win under WBC’s scoring. The results will not be reflected on their fight record. We apologize for any confusion and look forward to a great night of fights Saturday night.”
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Mike Tyson Looks To Erase The Final Image Of Himself In The Ring: “That Guy That Was In Washington D.C. Was Just A Ghost Of Me”
By: Hans Themistode
The Mike Tyson who carried around with him an aura of invincibility throughout the 1990s, was a far cry from the man who laid slumped on the ropes at the MCI Center in Washington D.C. at the hands of journeymen Kevin McBride in 2005.
On the night, the man who appeared inside of the ring may have resembled the former heavyweight titlist, but the real Mike Tyson was nowhere to be found.
“That guy that was in Washington D.C. was just a ghost of me,” said Tyson during a recent presser. “I was happy to leave the ring man.”
Shortly after losing via sixth round stoppage, Tyson would announce his retirement to the world. His words may have come as a shock to his fans, but with his heart no longer fully invested in the sport and his legal troubles piling up, Tyson was no longer fighting because he wanted to but more so because he needed to.
“I was fighting for just financial purposes and I was on drugs back then,” explained Tyson. “I dreaded even being in the ring at that time.”
Tyson, 54, may have ended his career on a whimper, but with the former heavyweight titlist dropping workout video, after workout video which depicts him looking far younger than what his birth certificate entails,
he simply can’t wait to enter the ring again.
On November 28th, he’ll do just that when he ends his 15 year retirement to take on future hall of famer Roy Jones Jr. in an exhibition matchup at the Staples Center in Carson, California. The two boxing icons were once in discussion to face off against one another nearly two decades ago when they campaigned in the same weight class. Dreams of a mega fight between them would never materialize as both sides could never agree to terms.
Still, for Tyson, he could care less about answering questions about how their contest would have played out. Also, the lasting image of a man who was once considered “The Baddest Man On The Planet,” isn’t exactly what’s on his mind either. Instead, he’ll be looking to etch a new memory as opposed to the one that saw him dejected and ousted from both the ring and his illustrious career.
“I was a whole different person back then. I have the desire and will to do this now. I’m just ready to do this stuff and I’m feeling really great so I want the world to see how I look.”
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Roy Jones Jr. Stops By Boxing Insider Radio To Discuss His Ring Dominance And “Kill Or Be Killed,” Mentality Against Mike Tyson
While Roy Jones Jr. may show flashes of his former self during short workout clips, the fact of the matter is, at 51 years of age, training every day just isn’t possible. So on a day where he allowed his old bones to rest, he decided to swing by Boxing Insider Radio to discuss several topics including how he has to be prepared to either “kill or be killed,” against Mike Tyson on November 28th.
To listen in on the conversation, head over to Spotify, iTunes or BoxingInsider.com to subscribe.
When you’re a four weight world champion, future first ballot hall of famer and considered by most as the best boxer to ever lace up a pair of gloves, it’s difficult to play second fiddle to anyone. Yet, in the case of Roy Jones Jr., that is exactly what is happening.
During much of the lead up of his contest against former heavyweight titlist Mike Tyson which will take place on November 28th, the Pensacola, Florida native has been summarily dismissed as having no chance against the surly knockout artist.
The reason is simple. For as great as Jones Jr. has been throughout his career, Mike Tyson has left many of his opponents either unconscious or in a vegetative state.
The accolades of Tyson scream dominance. In 1986, at 20 years of age, the Brooklyn native became the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history when he destroyed Trevor Berbick in just under two rounds. He would go on to become undisputed world champion just one year later, outpointing Tony Tucker to do so.
Simply put, Tyson dominated the heavyweight division like no other. But while many are in awe of how he ran through his competition with deleterious shot after deleterious shot, Jones Jr. shrugs his shoulders. Dominating a weight class is difficult to do in itself, but making several divisions look like your personal playpen is something else entirely.
“A lot of people don’t really pay attention to the level of dominance that I had. I dominated from middleweight to heavyweight,” said Jones Jr. to BoxingInsider Radio. “Not just did it but I dominated. I didn’t just dominate one weight class, I dominated an area. I dominated a whole area. Anything from 160 to a heavyweight was not safe when I was around.”
Deciding who is the best fighter in the world has always been conjecture. Today’s list mostly varies at the top between fighters such as Canelo Alvarez, Vasiliy Lomachenko, Terence Crawford and numerous others. But throughout the 90s and early 2000s, Jones Jr. was the only name that echoed throughout every list. With that being said, his heyday has long since past him.
During the back half of his career, his once impregnable defense was cracked on several occasions by lesser fighters. The hand speed he once possessed which forced viewers to hit the slow down button on their remote’s has dissipated as well.
In short, many believe that Jones Jr. held on far too long, retiring officially in 2018.
For much of his retirement, the four division world champion showed no interest of getting blood stained on his knuckles again. But the moment he became settled into the rocking chair of his retirement life, an opportunity of a life time came calling.
“I always wanted to fight Mike and he always wanted to fight me. But originally, I thought it was just an exhibition. I was called for an exhibition but I was invited to a fight,” said Jones Jr. before laughing.
Jaws hit the deck once Tyson vs Jones Jr. was announced. Fans began celebrating and planning their schedule’s around their November 28th date. They also began planning the funeral of Jones Jr. as soon as Tyson began dropping snippets of his workout videos.
With knockout losses at the hands of Enzo Maccarinelli, Denis Lebedev and Danny Green in the latter portion of his career, getting into an all out war with Tyson isn’t something that Jones Jr. had in mind. With that being said, neither does the California State Athletic Commissioner in Andy Foster.
For several months now, Foster started putting together the safety protocols that would prevent Tyson from living his bloodthirsty moments.
“I wanted to have their assurances that they understand, ‘I don’t care if they spar. I don’t care if they work.’ They are world-class athletes, even still,” said Foster several months ago. “They have a right to earn, and all these types of things. They’re about the same age. We can’t mislead the public as to this is some kind of real fight. They can get into it a little bit, but I don’t want people to get hurt. They know the deal.
“It’s an exhibition,” continued Foster. “They can exhibit their boxing skills, but I don’t want them using their best efforts to hurt each other. They’re going to spar hard, but they shouldn’t be going for a knockout. This isn’t a record-book type of fight. This is not world-championship boxing right now. It’s not what this is. People shouldn’t be getting knocked out. The public can see what kind of shape Roy and Mike are still in.”
Safety and Mike Tyson are oxymorons. Never have the two made sense in the same sentence.
Foster can speak until he’s blue in the face of the safety measures he is taking. Jones Jr. though, is preparing himself to take things to the extreme on fight night.
“When you listen to all that foolishness that they talking about, the real deal is you’re going into the ring with a killer. You either gotta kill him or he’s going to kill you. Don’t pay attention to what Andy Foster is saying. You either gotta kill him or he’s going to kill you.”
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Roy Jones Jr On Mike Tyson Showdown: “I Made A Mistake Going In With Him, He’s Known For More First-Round Fireworks Than Anybody”
By: Hans Themistode
From the moment the ink dried on their fight agreement, boxing fans around the world began taking a trip down memory lane.
Thoughts of Mike Tyson destroying his opposition before they were able to finish their bag of popcorn were still pertinent. Sure he looked like a shell of his former scary self in 2005, his last ring appearance, but with the Brooklyn native releasing a new workout video seemingly every week, the question of whether or not he would leave Roy Jones Jr. in a vegetative state come November 28th, became a real one.
Fans of Tyson hoping to catch a glimpse of his “baddest man on the planet” days, might be excited to see him dish out some real damage. But the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) on the other hand, isn’t expecting Tyson to go out there and throw haymakers.
“It’s an exhibition. They can exhibit their boxing skills, but I don’t want them using their best efforts to hurt each other. They’re going to spar hard, but they shouldn’t be going for a knockout. This isn’t a record-book type of fight. This is not world-championship boxing right now. It’s not what this is. People shouldn’t be getting knocked out. The public can see what kind of shape Roy and Mike are still in.”
In a sense, the CSAC views this as a safe yet entertaining matchup. But the words safe and Mike Tyson have always been an oxymoron.
“He’s still Mike Tyson,” said Jones Jr. to Sky Sports. “He’s still one of the strongest, most explosive people who ever touched a boxing ring.”
With 22 first round knockouts over the course of his career, Tyson simply wasn’t interested in having a long night. But for the most part, those explosive performances came from a young Mike Tyson. The one who would repeatedly curse during media sessions and donned black shorts with black boxing boots with no socks as he made his way to the ring shirtless.
This version of Tyson has mellowed. He’s been an advocate for mental health, stops for photographs and seldom curses at reporters anymore. But his new found facade isn’t fooling Jones Jr.
The former four division world champion and one time heavyweight titlist was never one to back down from a challenge. But with everything now set in stone, and the former pound for pound champ realizing that there’s no turning back, he’s acknowledging his mea culpa.
“If anything, I made a mistake going in with him. He’s the bigger guy, he’s the explosive guy. He’s going to have all the first-round fireworks, not me. I do have first-round fireworks. But he’s known for more first-round fireworks than anybody to ever touch boxing, other than maybe George Foreman. With him having the first-round fireworks, he’ll be against a guy smaller than him, maybe 40-50 pounds smaller than him.”
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Mike Tyson Explains In Depth Why He Decided To Return To The Ring
By: Hans Themistode
Re-wrapping those hands and placing those black boxing shoes on with no socks was supposed to stay in the past.
Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson was always a part of the headlines. Whether he was placing one of his opponents in a coma or walking his pet tiger, Tyson was a magnet for the camera’s. However, once he retired from the sport of boxing, he mostly faded away into the shadows.
He would still make a few television appearances and make his way to big fights, but his presence wasn’t nearly the same.
Whenever the Brooklyn native was caught in the public eye, he seemed to be enjoying his retirement. The once 215 pound surly champion became rotund over the years. Most called it enjoying the fruits of his labor, Tyson on the other hand, didn’t like what he saw in the mirror.
“I was complaining about my weight,” said Tyson on the Joe Rogan podcast. “I tried on some clothes one day and it was disastrous. So I was discussing it with my wife one day, something about me being old and my weight. So she said why don’t you just get on the treadmill for 15 minutes a day. It went from 15 minutes a day to two hours a day.”
Tyson, 54, had no intentions on boxing ever again. He simply wanted to shed a few pounds and slim down his physique. His new slimmer look however, gave many the wrong impression. He never wanted to officially fight inside of the squared circle. With that being said, he was given an offer that he just couldn’t refuse.
“I started losing weight. Then one day my brother in law came up to me and said, would you fight this guy for 30 or 40 million bucks? My immediate reaction was man get the fuc….. whoa, who would they like me to fight? My brother in law said one minute, made a call and told me it would be Bob Sapp.”
Sapp, of course, was a former multi-sport athlete. The 46 year old was drafted in the third round of the NFL Draft in 1997 by the Chicago Bears before ultimately seeing his career go down the drain due to alleged steroid abuse. From there, he took his talents to the world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). His career was a subpar one, scoring 12 wins against 19 losses.
Sapp’s lane has never been in the boxing world, so as Tyson became interested, he first made sure that he wasn’t signing up to get kicked in the face or taken down to the mat.
“I said to myself well, I know Bob, he’s big and strong so I said, well how would they like me to fight him? Can I fight him under the Marcus of Queensbury Rules? My brother in law went back and asked the guy and once they said yes, I said I’ll fight him.”
Although Tyson had verbally agreed to take on Sapp, things slowly began to change. His focus was forced to shift as his opponents became a revolving door.
“It went from him to another guy to another guy in MMA, then another fighter, then Evander and it was just a bunch of guys. Then the next thing you know, it came down to Roy and I was like I didn’t know what the hell was going on. Next thing you know he signed the contract and I signed the contract. Next thing you know I’m in the gym again and it’s disastrous. Now I’m saying to myself, did I really do this shit?”
Judging the end product though, getting in shape for Tyson seemed easy. He now routinely walks around shirtless and bears an eerie resemblance to his former 20 year old self. The short clips which show the Brooklyn native pounding the pads and looking as explosive as ever backs those claims. But while most were impressed with his workout videos, Tyson went through hell shooting the content.
“I did that video and I was in bed for a week. It was 30 seconds and I was in bed for a week. It made me realize that this is big boy shit. Getting in shape and getting in condition are two different animals. They don’t even belong in the same vision of working out. Getting in shape is being able to fit your clothes. Getting in condition is being able to come outside of your soul and you can’t do that automatically. The emotional state to prepare for that is mind boggling.”
The physical pain may be excruciating for Tyson, but he has officially committed to his return to the ring long term. The former champion, along with several business partners, have heavily invested into “The Legends Only League.” Essentially, all former great athletes, regardless of the sport they once played, will receive an open invitation to place their skills on display for the world to see once again.
Tyson, a normally stoic personally, couldn’t help but smile when describing his new venture.
“It’s going to be awesome,” explained Tyson. “We’re going to start up the legends only league and it’s going to be really breathtaking.”
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Mike Tyson On Fight Postponement: “This Temporary Inconvenience Will Last Longer Than Roy Jones Jr”
By: Hans Themistode
With roughly one month until their original September 12th fight date, there simply wasn’t enough time to promote a historical contest between former heavyweight titlist Mike Tyson and former four division world champion Roy Jones Jr.
With both Tyson and Jones well past their primes, the buzz surrounding their showdown was still immense. Social media immediately divided into team Jones and team Tyson with each side giving their take on why their man will come out on top. With the anticipation reaching a ridiculous level, everyone involved, including Triller who will showcase the event on pay-per-view, believe that waiting will bring even more eyeballs to the television screen.
“Given the enormous interest, the holiday weekend will make this historic battle an even bigger viewing event,” said Triller in a recent statement. “Marking the first live Pay-Per-View event brought to the world by Triller as the first of the ‘Triller Battles’ series.”
Tyson, for what it’s worth, placed his full backing behind Triller and their decision to postpone his comeback matchup.
“Changing the date to November 28th will give more people the opportunity to see the biggest comeback in boxing history,” Tyson said in a statement.
For Tyson, his early career consisted of matchups that were shorter than bathroom breaks. His eye blinking knockouts gave him the moniker “the baddest man on the planet.” Although during the second half of his career he wasn’t nearly as intimidating, Tyson seems to be ready to turn back the clock to his glory days of the 80s.
“This temporary inconvenience will last longer than Roy Jones Jr. He better be ready, I’m coming full force.”
While Jones vs Tyson is more than enough to grab the sports world attention, the undercard associated with the event will be a spectacle all in itself.
Calling YouTube star Jake Paul a boxer would seem both farfetched and disrespectful to the sport, but technically with a knockout win in his ring debut against fellow YouTube star Ali Eson Gib earlier this year, Paul is listed as not only a boxer but ranked the 748th best in the Cruiserweight division according to Boxrec. The YouTuber turned professional fighter is set to return to the ring in another peculiar matchup. This time against former NBA player Nate Robinson.
With a lack of actual boxers on the card, former two division world champion Badou Jack has officially jumped onboard to give fans a true boxing show to lead into the main event. The Swedish native is set to take on the unheralded Jake McKernan.
Those who are looking to checkout the event, will have to fork over $50 dollars on November 28th in order to do so.
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Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Postponed Reportedly Due to Time and Money
By: Hans Themistode
With 15 years since his last ring appearance, fans of Mike Tyson should have no problem waiting a bit longer for his return.
As first reported by The Athletic, the former heavyweight champion will have his highly anticipated matchup against Roy Jones Jr. pushed back from its original September 12th date, to November 28th.
Reasoning behind the postponement is reportedly due to time and money. When the news first broke of the iconic boxers agreeing to terms for a heavyweight matchup, social media exploded. Despite the $50 dollar price tag associated with their September bout, most were seemingly onboard to watch two legends settle a near 20 year question of who is the better fighter.
In the early 2000s, Tyson’s aura of invincibility was all but gone. Losses to James Buster Douglas, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis proved that the Brooklyn native was no longer “The Baddest Man On The Planet.” Jones Jr. on the other hand, was fresh off his fourth world title win against then WBA champion John Ruiz. Talks of a contest between the two never materialized however. Until recently.
The entire vision behind the Tyson vs Jones Jr. contest needed more time to complete as a ten part docu series will lead viewers into the bout. That, along with the assumption that the slightly longer anticipation will generate more dollars have led to the delay.
While fans will have to patiently wait a bit longer, the unexpected setback will give both fighters, who are well into their 50s, more time to prepare.
For both men, the end of their careers was not kind. Tyson hung up the gloves in 2005 after back to back knockout losses to Kevin McBride and Danny Williams. Following his matchup with McBride, Tyson revealed that he was no longer the same man who wanted to annihilate his opponents.
“I just don’t have the desire nomore,” said Tyson in 2005 following his loss to McBride. “I don’t have the stomach to do it no more.”
Nevertheless, 15 years later, Tyson has seemingly found that desire once again.
As for Jones Jr. his career stretched out far beyond his golden years. The Florida native may have called it a career in 2018, but with no world title wins under his belt since 2003, Jones Jr. fought as a shadow of his former self for nearly two decades.
With that being said, he did win his last four contests albeit against subpar competition.
In both of their primes, the question of who was the better fighter always drove boxing circles crazy. Now, well into their 50s, they won’t be able to answer that question completely, but they can certainly give a glimpse into what could have happened.
Still, fans will have to wait a few more months to see how things play out.
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What’s More Frightening Than Mike Tyson? The Sharks Viewers Will Watch Him Face.
By: Sean Crose
“I was scared all the way through,” Mike Tyson is quoted by the New York Post as saying, “and was just trying to get through it alive.” Tyson is referring to “Tyson vs. Jaws: Rumble on the Reef,” which will be aired live on Sunday as part of the Discovery Channel’s popular “Shark Week” programming. “I’m a scary guy,” Tyson added, “but not when it comes to adventurous stuff.” The event will show Tyson underwater with a band of less than friendly looking sharks. With him will be Paul de Gelder, a shark expert who – not coincidentally – has lost an arm and a leg thanks to a shark.
“He threw up before or after nearly every dive,” de Gelder told InsideEdition. No surprise, perhaps, since Tyson has long admitted the presence – and even helpfulness – of fear in the ring. “One shark kept bumping me,” the Post quotes the former heavyweight great as saying, “and I’m like, ‘What the hell do you want?’” Tyson even went so far as to admit he’s not crazy about the water to begin with. “I’m scared of anything in the water,” he reportedly proclaims on the telecast. “I won’t even put my foot in the water.”
Thanks to the help of de Gelder, however, Tyson found a way to push his fear aside. Not that the Australian expert put him at ease immediately. “I said, ‘Listen, this is not a good time to make me feel confident in there,’ seeing this guy who’s got an arm and a leg missing.” Tyson learned to trust his future cornerman of sorts and eventually worked his way to the point where he was ready to face some of the most feared creatures on the entire planet. An odd matchup, to be sure, but one Discovery hopes will draw in eyeballs.
Sunday’s broadcast is part of a new stage in Tyson’s life, one where the fifty plus year old fighter will be getting back into the ring. For, in September, the former undisputed heavyweight titlist will be facing former pound for pound great Roy Jones in a highly hyped exhibition match. That event, however, will cost viewers money, while Sunday’s spectacular will only cost the price of basic cable or streaming. It might be one of Tyson’s oddest challenges, but it’s one where safety is guaranteed.
“No sharks were harmed,” de Gleder said of the previously recorded broadcast.
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Antonio Tarver on Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr: “They Running From Their Adversaries”
By: Hans Themistode
The boxing world couldn’t help but yell in excitement once former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and pound for pound great, Roy Jones Jr. announced their contest. On September 12th, both men will end their retirement and dust the gloves off one more time.
Choosing a winner between the two has been the topic of conversations for the past few days. But while most of the world is wondering how things will play out, former two division world champion Antonio Tarver is trying to figure out what’s the point.
“I hope they do their thing,” said Tarver on his social media account. “It’ll be great. But come on, beating a Roy Jones, knocking out Roy Jones, I mean we done seen that shit before. But if Roy Jones beats Mike Tyson then what does that mean? If he looks good against Mike Tyson then what does that really mean?”
What it would mean is unclear, but Tarver is hoping that a win for Jones Jr. could lead to a fourth fight against arguably his biggest rival. The two shared the ring together in the mid 2000s. Jones Jr. would famously move up to the heavyweight division to grab a heavyweight title from then WBA champion John Ruiz. Following that win, rumors between Tyson and Jones Jr. began to circulate, but their contest never materialized.
Instead, the newly crowned heavyweight champion dropped down in weight to the light heavyweight division and took home a close decision win against Tarver. Believing that victory was nothing more than a fluke, Tarver got his hands on Jones Jr. in an immediate rematch, knocking him out in the second round.
The two would meet for a third and final time one year later. Tarver would prove that he was in fact the better fighter as he scored a unanimous decision victory.
With back to back wins over Jones Jr. Tarver believes he’s the last person that he wants to see inside of the ring, even at the age of 51.
“I believe both of them are running from their adversaries. You know Holyfield got Tyson number, I obviously have Roy Jones number, obviously. But they choose to fight each other, they running from their adversaries.”
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Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr Officially Set For Exhibition Contest on September 12th
By: Hans Themistode
When Mike Tyson announced his comeback to the ring several months ago, many were incredulous to the news of the now 54 year old former champion. However, after the Brooklyn native began dropping workout videos, the boxing world began to take him seriously.
With 15 years since his last ring appearance, Tyson looked like a brand new man in recent footage. The beer belly had been replaced with a new found six pack and his deleterious punching power seemed to be still present.
Even with his beard completely grey, not many fighters were jumping at the opportunity to step into the ring against him. Nevertheless, former four division world champion Roy Jones Jr. has not only raised his hand, but he has also been selected.
The two hall of famers are slated to shake off the retirement dust face one another on September 12th, in an eight round exhibition in California on pay-per-view.
For both Tyson and Jones Jr. this contest has been in the making for nearly two decades.
In March of 2003, Jones moved up from the light heavyweight division to challenge then WBA heavyweight champion John Ruiz. Jones would go on to grab the title and talks immediately began between the two for a huge showdown.
Of course, like many super fights in the sport of boxing, issues over money began to linger and their dream matchup fell apart entirely.
Jones would go on to drop down to the light heavyweight division, but was a shell of his former pound for pound self. Tyson would also continue his career, but the moniker “Baddest Man On The Planet,” no longer applied to him.
With both fighters now agreeing to step into the ring against one another, their entire fight card is shaping up to be a memorable one. According to reports this will not be a traditional event. Both professional boxers and MMA fighters will face off against one another on the undercard.
There is no word yet as to who will participate, nor has there been any reports of what the rules will be. But at the moment, Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr will officially take place on September 12th.
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Oscar De La Hoya Eyes Comeback After a Dozen Years Away From The Ring
By: Hans Themistode
First Mike Tyson, then Evander Holyfield and now Oscar De La Hoya.
The former six division world champion has watched from the sidelines for the past 12 years, but he is beginning to get the itch fight once again.
Tyson was the first to grab his attention. At the age of 53, he’s dropped multiple training videos of himself looking anything but the number on his birth certificate. After one of his most recent clips was aired, he capped it off with two words.
“I’m back.”
Now, De La Hoya (39-6, 30 KOs) is looking to use those words himself as he eyes a comeback at the age of 47.
“I have been working out,” said De La Hoya to Ring Magazine. “I have been training, I have been staying in shape. Obviously not in fighting shape yet to go 12 rounds but I’m sure I can get there. We’ll see.”
Golden Boy isn’t just an eye-catching name for De La Hoya’s promotional company. It was also his nickname throughout his career, and for good reason.
He came out of the 1992 Olympics with a gold medal dangling around his neck and quickly added more around his waist during the course of his 16 year run. His accomplishments, which included winning 10 world titles in six different weight divisions, pushed him into the hall of fame in 2014.
He was last seen inside of the ring in 2008 in what turned out to be a one sided loss at the hands of Manny Pacquiao. De La Hoya was dominated during the first half of the contest before ultimately going out on his shield during the eighth round.
De La Hoya may have been 35 during his contest with Pacquiao, but he doesn’t solely contribute that loss to his age.
“Take a look at my last fight with Pacquiao,” said De La Hoya. “I fought at 160 and came all the way back down at 147 to try and beat a Pacquiao who was just moving up but was faster then hell. I just couldn’t pull the trigger. I overtrained, my muscles were so lean. I was a walking zombie when I walked into the ring.”
Squeezing back down to the Welterweight limit of 147 pounds isn’t on the agenda of De La Hoya if he does decide to come back. The weight class he has in mind is a few pounds above, but before he truly entertains a comeback, he is keeping a close eye on the return of Mike Tyson.
“It would be at 160. I actually want to see what Tyson does first. See how reflexes are, see if he can go past three or four rounds and from there I’ll make my decision. I really would come back, I’m really considering it.”
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Luis Ortiz Open to Mike Tyson Bout
By: Hans Themistode
Boxers around the world have been affected negatively by COVID-19. But none more so than Heavyweight contender Luis Ortiz. At 41 years of age, the former WBA interim world champion has become a ticking time bomb. He hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down, but Father Time has a close eye on him.
At one point, Ortiz (31-2, 26 KOs) was known as the boogieman of the division, but two stoppage losses to former WBC titlist Deontay Wilder quickly changed that narrative.
But even with Wilders right hand permanently tattooed on his forehead, Ortiz still has hopes of becoming the first Cuban born Heavyweight world champion. For now though, he simply sits back and waits until the phone rings for another opportunity.
“I’ve stayed at home like everyone else,'” Ortiz said to George Ebro. “But I’ve remained active, with proper physical preparation. I already have my ring at home and there I do the exercises. I’ve been told I could fight again between August or September. In any case, I’ll be ready.”
A third fight with Wilder is out of the question. But with title holders such as Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, the Cuban big man still has plenty of options.
For now, it’s all about placing himself in a win, win situation, which is easier said than done. Both Wilder and Fury have a third date penciled in for one another, while Joshua on the other hand has a candlelit dinner of his own with Kubrat Pulev. Other contenders such as Dillian Whyte, Dereck Chisora, Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois all have previously booked matchups as well.
With that being said, there is a recently un retired former world champion who is currently in search of his own dance partner at the moment as well.
“I’m not a boxer sitting down to pick names for some convenience,” Ortiz added. “I’m going against whoever it is and whoever I want. Now there’s a lot of talk about Mike Tyson’s return. If he wants to, I’ll even go against him. I just need a name and a date.”
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Bare Knuckle President David Feldman Hopes to Match Tyson Up With Wanderlei Silva
By: Hans Themistode
Former Heavyweight champion Mike Tyson has yet another offer on the table. One that he may not be able to walk away from.
Raking in tens of millions of dollars was once a normal occurrence for Tyson. It isn’t surprising. After all, the youngest Heavyweight titlist in boxing history repeatedly left his opponents clinging for life after a few minutes into his contests.
At 53 years of age, he may not possess the same knockout as he did in his younger years, but his ability to draw viewers to a television screen seems to be as strong as ever.
It’s been a decade and a half since Tyson has stepped foot inside of a boxing ring. But the former Heavyweight champion has used this worldwide pandemic to get himself back into fighting shape.
Tyson isn’t eyeing a title shot against unified champion Anthony Joshua. He also doesn’t seem interested in ending the debate of who hits the hardest between himself and former WBC belt holder Deontay Wilder.
Instead, Tyson has expressed interest in taking part in a few exhibition matchups for charity. And while getting a glimpse inside of the ring would draw a massive crowd, current President of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship David Feldman, would rather Tyson bring that attention to his sport. And he is prepared to pay a hefty price in order for the former champion to do so.
“I want to see if we can make the Mike thing happen, period, and then we’ll start talking opponents. We’re not successful yet in making that Mike thing happen. But I don’t think the door’s shut. He did say no immediately. But I think there’s room there.”
Not only does Feldman believe there is room, but he also believes he has the perfect opponent lined up. And regardless of what MMA star Tito Ortiz has recently said to the media in terms of an offer being on the table for him to face Tyson, Feldman has someone else in mind.
“I didn’t offer that (to Ortiz),” Feldman said. “I’m not sure that it really draws. I think a Wanderlei Silva, someone of that nature. No matter how old Silva gets, he’s dangerous, and I think that would be an intriguing matchup. Something like that, but I don’t actually have anything in mind right now.”
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Mike Tyson Continues Comeback Trail With Special Appearance at AEW
By: Hans Themistode
Mike Tyson made the first pit stop on his comeback tour this past weekend. Although this time around, he settled for a wrestling ring.
AEW superstars Cody Rhodes and Lance Archer battled it out at Double or Nothing. Tyson was expected to sit back and enjoy the matchup from his ring side seat. Following the contest, he was due to wrap the winners waist with the TNT title. But it’s seldom that there is a ring around and Tyson does not choose to make an appearance inside of it.
In professional wrestling, no contest ever seems to go smoothly without a hint of interference. Playing the role of meddler on the night, was WWE Hall of Famer Jake “The Snake” Roberts.
“The Snake” was determined to give Archer the advantage during the match. And on several occasions he did just that. But while Archer had a WWE hall of Famer in his corner, Rhodes had a man who was once known as “The Baddest Man on The Planet” in his.
Tyson often won fights during his illustrious career before he even landed a punch. In short, opponents were scared out of their minds by the time it was fight night. In the case of Roberts, he’s exchanged fists with Stone Cold Steve Austin, Andre The Giant and even the Undertaker during his career. But the now 64 year old Roberts had little interest in facing off against Tyson.
With Roberts now out of the way, Rhodes took care of business to pull off the victory in the ring. Just as expected, Tyson joined him in the ring to celebrate the victory. If Tyson has things his way, then this will only be the first win he is a part of in the near future.
The former Heavyweight champ has slimmed down his once retired body and has gotten himself into fighting shape. Rumors of a third fight with the also recently un retired Evander Holyfield is on the cards. But Tyson could choose to go elsewhere. Regardless of when and where he decides to fight, Tyson has reassured everyone that it will simply be an exhibition contest for charity.
“Hey, listen, there are a lot of people out there that need help,” said Tyson to TMZ. “Something like that could help a lot of people, that’s in need for help.”
Whether Tyson decides to face off against Holyfield or not, it appears his AEW appearance was only the first of many in 2020.
