Mike Tyson Has Reportedly Booked An Eight-Round Exhibition Fight Against Another Boxing Legend

I speculated a few months back that Mike Tyson’s various viral videos of his return to boxing training could be the pre-hype for a return to the ring. And, with the interest Tyson drummed up, there were a lot of rumored fights out there, most loudly a possible rematch with Evander Holyfield. According to Yahoo Sports boxing reporter Kevin Iole, it’s not Holyfield but another big name from boxing’s past who’ll step into the ring with the rusty Iron Mike:

Big news: @MikeTyson is coming back. He will fight @RealRoyJonesJr in an eight-round exhibition match. Heard there will be boxer vs MMA fighters on undercard. Looks like it will be in Cali. Don't have the date yet.

— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) July 23, 2020

The former pound-for-pound king Roy Jones Jr. has been more active over the last few years and has won his last four fights (though the last of those was in 2018). But the 51-year-old is likely a fair opponent for Mike Tyson given that the other options, like the aforementioned Holyfield, seem unlikely to be medically cleared to compete.

Even if Jones Jr.’s star was waned after a lengthy career in the ring, the potential for a Roy Jones Jr./Mike Tyson fight seems interesting. It probably would have been more interesting before all of the sports returned but it seems like there could be some mainstream curiosity depending upon the event’s timing and price point.

Even though we’re not likely to see either Mike Tyson or Roy Jones Jr. anywhere close to their prime, here’s hoping they put on a good show. Now let’s watch nostalgic highlights of both that will be impossible for either to live up to!