Boxing
Mike Tyson Has a Willing Opponent If Roy Jones Jr. Backs Out
Mike Thomas spent 23 years on staff and 16 years as the sports editor at The Herald News in Fall River, Mass., before joining Sportscasting in 2020. Mike has a deep knowledge of and passion for the NFL and NBA, and he excels at interviewing sports celebrities to find out their Super Bowl picks. A New England Newspaper and Press Association award-winning columnist and an avid sports memorabilia collector, Mike enjoys keeping up with all the sports news and the works of former Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly. You can find more of Mike's work on Muck Rack.
Get to know Mike Thomas betterPublished22 Sep 2020
Mike Tyson is ready to get back in the ring Thanksgiving Weekend, but is his opponent? Roy Jones Jr., scheduled to fight Tyson on Nov. 28, sounded like he was having second thoughts a week ago when he said he “made a mistake” agreeing to go in the ring with him. Jones Jr. said he still plans to fight Tyson, but if he bailed out, there is another opponent ready and willing to take on Iron Mike.
Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. scheduled for November
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Throughout the summer, there was speculation that Mike Tyson would be getting back into the boxing ring. Rumors were swirling as videos of Tyson working out were appearing on various social media sites. It was announced this summer that another former boxing champion, 51-year-old Roy Jones Jr., would be fighting Tyson in an eight-round exhibition match on Sept. 12.
The bout, however, has been pushed back to Nov. 28 as promoters believe there would be a much bigger pay-per-view audience during the Thanksgiving Day Weekend. The 54-year-old Tyson finished his career with a record of 50-6 with 44 knockouts.
Jones was no slouch, either. He went 66-9 with 47 knockouts. He won titles in four different weight classes. Jones’ last fight was in 2018 when he defeated Scott Sigmon in a decision.
Is Jones Jr. having second thoughts?
According to Boxing Scene, Roy Jones Jr. said he may have made a mistake agreeing to jump into the ring with Mike Tyson. “He’s still Mike Tyson, he’s still one of the strongest, most explosive people who ever touched a boxing ring. If anything, I made a mistake going in with him. He’s the bigger guy, he’s the explosive guy,”
Despite what sounds like he’s having second thoughts, Jones Jr. said the show will go on. “When it comes time to fight, we’re going to fight. If it comes down to bite, we’re going to bite. Whatever has to happen, is going to happen, that’s just what it is.”
“He’s going to have all the first-round fireworks, not me,” Jones Jr. continued. “I do have first-round fireworks, but he’s known for more first-round fireworks than anybody to ever touch boxing, other than maybe George Foreman … With him having the first-round fireworks, he’ll be against a guy smaller than him, maybe 40-to-50 pounds smaller than him.”
There’s one boxer who will take Jones Jr.’s place
The Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. bout is scheduled for Nov. 28. According to Boxing Scene, it will be an eight-round exhibition fought with bigger gloves and no headgear. Jones Jr. fought one heavyweight bout in his career and won the WBA world title.
Shannon Briggs, another former heavyweight title holder, said if Jones Jr. bailed out of the fight, he’d gladly step in. Briggs went 60-6 in his career with 53 knockouts. Like Tyson, Briggs was born and raised in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn. He’s eager to get in the ring with Tyson.
“They say champ having second thoughts. Tag me in champ! I am from Brownsville too. Never ran, never will. Let’s go champ,” Briggs said, according to Boxing Scene.
