We don’t normally cover exhibition matches, but this one has a different feel to it, as two past legends of the sport are coming together, and bringing worldwide attention to it.  Legendary 5-time, and former Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World “Iron” Mike Tyson (50-6-0, 44KO) will put the gloves on once again, to face fellow legend, and 7-time, 4 Division World Champion 🥈Roy Jones Jr. (66-9-0, 47KO) for a special over-the-hill match that is likely to deliver some lasting moments given the mentality of the fighters, both past, and present.

THE SET UP, AND RULES FOR THIS MATCH

Given that is in exhibition form, the rules are different, and are tailored towards what the boxers sign on to.  For starters, the boxers will be allotted eight, 2-minute rounds, and each will wear 🥊🥊12 oz. gloves.  What gives this exhibition fight a live jolt is that there will be no headgear used, which changes the whole dynamic and complexity of the contest.  The Referee selected will be Ray Corona, and the match will take place at the 🏟️Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

WHY IS THIS FIGHT SO INTERESTING?

Specifically honing in on Mike Tyson, as the world is aware of, he only knows one speed, and that is to go all out and give 150%, so the word “exhibition” means nothing to Mike, as he won’t be taking it easy once he steps between the ropes.  During his popular Podcast “Hotboxin’ With Mike Tyson”, he opened up to legendary guest 🥇“Sugar” Ray Leonard about his inner need to hit something for the sake of his sanity, and the intensity shown during that segment shows that for his sake, a fight like this is personally needed.

As for Roy, while he has never quite been the 💣supernova Tyson was/is internally, Jones is a proud, crabby veteran of equal proportion, who was one seldom to turn down any major opportunity, and operated without fear, so as people are excited about what Tyson is going to bring to the table, Jones like we’ve seen in his career, won’t back down, and insists he got something waiting for Mike once the bell sounds.

THE NOSTALGIA OF WHAT-IF’S IS STRONG

While many people of course won’t put too much stock in this one given that Tyson is a 54 year old man, and Roy isn’t far behind at age 51, this harkens back to around the 🗓️year 2003, where this was a fight that could have conceivably happened.  Roy Jones had moved up 2 divisions to win the Heavyweight Championship of the World over John Ruiz, and Mike Tyson was still in the division during the backend of his career.

While Mike was nowhere near the same fighter that he was a decade+ prior, he was still dangerous due to his immense power, and despite the brilliance of Roy Jones, he was small for the division, so one wonders based off of where they were in their careers, how it could have panned out.  At the very least, watchers, and pundits of the sport can 📺view this fight to see what tactics they will use, and will try to work it back into their logic of how they believe the fight would have went down if they would have fought nearly two decades ago.

OUR TAKEAWAYS FROM THEIR TRAINING

Mike looks unusually fresh, and explosive for a 54 year old man.  No matter what happens in the fight given his stamina, it is impressive at his age that he has been able to get himself into pristine shape.  Jones more-so looks customary to that of a 51 year old, with slowed reflexes, but shows just enough to where he may be able to move well come fight night.  Well there’s only one way to see, and that’s to wait – to see.