Mike Tyson is coming again to boxing at age 54.
The former heavyweight champion will meet four-division champion Roy Jones Jr. in an eight-round exhibition match on Sept. 12 at Dignity Health Sports Park.
Tyson turned the youngest heavyweight champion in historical past when he gained the title in 1986 at age 20 and for a time was essentially the most feared fighter in boxing. But his profession turned affected by distractions and he hasn’t boxed since 2005 after shedding his second straight struggle.
He has often teased a return with exercise movies and it is lastly scheduled to occur.
Jones, 51, gained titles within the middleweight, tremendous middleweight and light-weight heavyweight earlier than shifting up to win the heavyweight title in 2003, changing into the primary former middleweight champion to achieve this in 106 years.
The occasion will air on pay-per-view and the social media music platform Triller. Further matches on the cardboard and musical leisure will probably be introduced within the coming weeks.
Tyson vowed it will be aggressive quite than for present – “we’re displaying our expertise and preventing” – and mentioned he desires to recapture the fearsome type he as soon as displayed.
“It’s 100% of it trying to be Mike Tyson within the ring,” Tyson mentioned. “I’ve received one pace – ahead.”
In a battle for the aged, Tyson mentioned he desires to present older can nonetheless imply thrilling within the sports activities realm.
“It’s as a result of I can do it and I imagine different individuals imagine they will do it,” Tyson mentioned. “We aren’t washed up. Somebody says over-age is washed up however they’ve an even bigger fan base than the fellows who’re coaching now.”
Tyson envisions elder statesmen occasions of blended martial arts and NBA fame, mentioning such former NBA stars as Dennis Rodman and Allen Iverson.
Within a 12 months of changing into the primary former middleweight champion, 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, disqualifying 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, shedding to Britain’s Lennox Lewis in 2002, and retired after six rounds against Kevin McBride in 2005 in his last struggle, days shy of his 39th birthday.
“I’ve been by means of some experiences and now I’m again right here,” Tyson mentioned. “I’ve taken care of my physique.”
Jones has executed a lot the identical since profitable his first middleweight title in 1993 and rolled by means of the tremendous middleweight and light-weight heavyweight ranks at 49-1 earlier than dropping three fights in a row in 2004-2005.
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 not less than annually into 2018 however has spent extra time as a commentator than fighter lately.
