Mike Tyson has enjoyed his first fight in fifteen years and doesn’t expect it to stay in the ring on a one-off return. However, the 54-year-old American rules out that he will fight for titles.
Tyson fought a demonstration match at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles against Roy Jones Jr., three years his junior. As expected, no winner was named and both boxers were given the WBC specially designed championship belt.
The well-trained Tyson, who made a stronger impression than his opponent during the match, indicated afterwards that he wanted to return to the ring more often, but not with a title as a bet. He says it is mainly about raising money for charities.
“Would I also want to do this with a professional license in my pocket and then not as a demonstration party? No, this is for a good cause, to help people. That is much bigger than winning championships”, said the multiple world heavyweight champion.
‘Is not easy to take punches from Mike’
Tyson boxed his last official match in 2005 and then mainly made the news with his many excesses outside the ring. For example, he is said to have spent almost all of the prize money he earned during his career on alcohol and drugs.
In recent years ‘Iron Mike’ has changed his life drastically. He became a teetotaler and trained hard in recent months not to make a mess during his surprising comeback.
His opponent freely admitted afterwards that he had succeeded in this aim. “It’s not easy to take the punches from Mike,” said Jones, also multiple world champion. “But I knew it was going to hurt.”
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Mike Tyson immediately announced after the match that he wanted to return to the ring more often. (Photo: Pro Shots)
Tyson wants to get back in the ring against Jones soon
Afterwards, Tyson thought he deserved to be named the winner, but could live with the draw. “I hit you well a few times, but you took the blows well. We should do this over as soon as possible.”
The fight was called Frontline Battle and is the kick-off of the Legends Only League organized by Tyson. The aim is to organize competitions between former world top athletes in other sports as well.
Tyson announced in advance that a large part of the approximately $ 10 million (more than $ 8 million) he would earn from the fight against Jones Jr. go to charities. The money mainly benefits the homeless and drug addicts.
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