Mike Tyson comeback fight: Iron Mike to face fellow boxing legend Roy Jones Jr this September in California
Mike Tyson will make his boxing comeback against Roy Jones Jr in an exhibition bout in September.
The 54-year-old, who has stunned fans with his physical transformation during the COVID-19 pandemic, outlined his plans to return to the sport back in May.
Although many sceptics suggested it was a publicity stunt, the former undisputed world heavyweight champion insisted he was serious about fighting again and hired MMA legend Rafael Cordeiro to work with him on the pads.
While the likes of Tyson Fury and Tito Ortiz revealed they had held discussions with Tyson over being his comeback opponent, it has now been agreed that he will face Jones Jr.
The two legendary boxers will meet in an eight-round exhibition bout on September 12 at Dignity Health Sports Park in California.
The event will be on pay-per-view as well as shown on multi-media site Triller.
An exhibition bout, it will feature larger, 12-ounce gloves and neither man will reportedly be looking for a knockout as they will be without headgear.
The fight, named “FRONTLINE BATTLE,” is the first event of a series produced under Mike Tyson’s Legends Only League, a sports venture owned by Tyson and Eros Innovations which has partnered with Triller on all future boxing events.
Tyson has not fought since 2005 while Jones has remained active, with his 75th and most recent pro fight coming in 2018.
Tyson reigned as heavyweight champion from 1987-1990 and remains the youngest man to ever win a heavyweight world title.
Jones Jr held world titles in four weight classes, at middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight. The pair never met in their prime.
Jones said: “I had no intention of going back and fighting again but, for the sake of Mike Tyson, I agree to make an exception.
“For me, this is an opportunity that I cannot refuse. Of all those who wanted to go into the ring with him, he chose me. And since he did that, how can I say no?"
Andy Foster, who is the director of the California State Athletic Commission, confirmed he had met with both Tyson and Jones Jr via Zoom to arrange the showdown.
“This isn’t a situation where they’re going out there to try to take each other’s heads off,” Foster told .
“They’re just going to be in there moving around the ring and letting fans see these legends.”
Former pound-for-pound superstar Andre Ward claimed back in March that Jones Jr had rejected an astonishing $40million offer to fight Tyson back in 2003.
After starting his career at super-middleweight, he ended up claiming the WBA heavyweight title when he outpointed John Ruiz in 2003.
In February of the same year, Tyson had returned to winning ways by destroying Clifford Etienne inside of one round to bounce back after being stopped by Lennox Lewis.
The former world heavyweight champion was nearing the end of his storied career and one last payday against the pound-for-pound king beckoned.
But Ward, who achieved equally legendary status in his own distinguished career, claims the Florida-native wanted even more money to get in the ring with ‘Iron’ Mike.
Speaking to Ward said: “There was a [Mike] Tyson fight on the table, and I believe I’m accurate when I say this it was somewhere around $40m guaranteed.
“There was an upside too. You stay at heavyweight, keep the weight on, and Tyson wasn’t quite Tyson at that time.
“He was still dangerous, but he wasn’t quite Tyson. I think they were working towards it. What I heard was Roy wanted more money.
“Roy somehow said, ‘No, the fight will be there down the road,’ and put his attention to Antonio Tarver, and the rest is history.
“I wanted to see him fight Tyson and ride off into the sunset. One more and you’re out.
“Roy could have had a full career, and rode off into the sunset, hunting and fishing, doing whatever he does, and still not been fundamentally sound.”