Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr Exhibition
By: Daniel Velasquez
On Saturday, Nov. 28, after a day of food and family on Thanksgiving and a day of shopping and great deals on black Friday, boxing fans were treated with a bout between Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. The bout between two of boxing’s most iconic, accomplished and dominant fighters. Both Tyson and Jones are regarded as two of boxing’s all-time greats amongst boxing aficionados.
Tyson’s use of the peek-a-boo style to close the distance combined with his speed, use and understanding of angles and devastating punching power. Tyson is the youngest boxer to be crowned the heavyweight world champion at the age of 20 when he defeated Trevor Berbick by second-round knockout. Tyson would go on to unify and become the undisputed heavyweight champion from 1987-1990, cementing him as one of the greatest heavyweights of all-time.
Jones’ speed, reflexes, complex footwork and use of angles allowed him to do things most boxers would get punished for. Jones would charge his opponent with his hands low, arms wide open and chin exposed all a big no-no in boxing and lead with either a hook, uppercut or his rear right hand.
Jones' creative and unorthodox style was one that defied the rules of boxing, but was very troublesome for his opponents. Jones is four-division world champion. He held titles in the middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight division. He is the first and only middleweight to go on to win a title at heavyweight.
The exhibition between Tyson and Jones is a fantasy matchup that boxing fans have yearned for since 2003. A fight between the two became a possibility when Jones made the move to heavyweight and defeated John Ruiz for the World Boxing Association (WBA) championship.
On Joe Rogan’s podcast Andre Ward says there was a Tyson fight on the table and 40 million guaranteed, Ultimately Jones would move back down to light heavyweight to fight Antonio Tarver and never go back up to heavyweight. Jones also appeared on Rogan’s podcast and denied the claims of him turning down the fight, saying he would have taken a fight with Tyson but it was never offered.
Tyson is now 54 years old and the last time he fought was in 2005 losing to Kevin McBride and Jones is 51 years old with his last fight taking place in 2018 where he defeated Scott Sigmon. Any concern amongst fans that they would treat the fight as a sparring session was dismissed when both Tyson and Jones appeared on Rogan’s podcast and expressed that they are training and prepared for a real fight.
The exhibition was eight two-minute rounds and took place in Los Angeles at the iconic Staples Center. both men showed glimpses of what made them such two of the sport biggest icons. Tyson came out in that vintage style bobbing and weaving, using angles, and targeting the body with hooks that are still stuff of nightmares. Jones showed flashes of his slick style that relied on athleticism, reflexes and hand speed. the exhibition was solid, neither man was seriously injured and it gave fans some insight into what a fight between the two could have looked like in 2003.