After all the talk of Joe Joyce’s annoyance with Daniel Dubois, tonight we had a remarkable spectacle in many ways as two retired American boxing legends competed in an entertaining eight-round exhibition competition.
‘Iron’ Mike’s last professional fight took place 15 years ago when he was surprisingly beaten by Irishman Kevin McBride – a defeat that left the former undisputed heavyweight champion hanging up his gloves.
Meanwhile, Jones Jr., three years younger than his opponent at 51, was a four-weight world champion and didn’t retire until 2018 after a career of 75 fights.
Neither man embarrassed themselves during a highly observable long-range bout before a trio of former WBC champions Christy Martin, Vinny Pazienza and Chad Dawson declared a tie.
YouTube star Jake Paul decimated former NBA player Nate Robinson on the main support act of the night, while former two-weight world champion Badou Jack dominated Blake McKernan.
There were also impressive wins for Jamaine Ortiz and Edward Vazquez on Saturday’s undercard.
- Mike Tyson moves Roy Jones Jr.
- Badou Jack hits Blake McKernan
- Jamaine Ortiz beats Sulaiman Segawa
- Edward Vazquez beats Irvin Gonzalez Jr.
- Jake Paul beats Nate Robinson
Follow all reactions with Standard Sport’s LIVE blog!
Live updates
More setback for Paul vs. Robinson fight
Former British super flyweight champion Kal Yafai added it was “scary” that Robinson was granted a license to fight progressively.
British cruiserweight Isaac Chamberlain wrote, “These YouTube celebrities are making boxing a joke. This is a major knockout because the referee gave him every chance to go on for the fans. This is a farce.”
IBF super featherweight champion Joseph Diaz tweeted, “Can we stop these YouTube fights? [It’s] embarrassing and disrespectful to the sport. Boxing is not a sport to play with. These guys get hurt. “
Boxers urge “stupid celebrity fights” to stop
Boxing celebrities have called for “celebrity” battles to stop after YouTuber Jake Paul brutally knocked out former NBA star Nate Robinson.
The fight – on the Tyson vs Jones Jr. map – was briefly abandoned in the second round after Robinson was knocked down for the third time and his face first crashed into the canvas before being rushed to the hospital
The bout was cleared by the California State Athletic Commission, using traditional rules of 10-ounce gloves and no headgear, despite Robinson’s reported lack of training.
Claressa Shields, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, tweeted, “Nate doesn’t have to be in without a hat. You can’t box.”
Teddy Atlas, a former Tyson coach, added, “I don’t care about athletes or not, stop allowing guys who don’t know how to fight in a ring. Paul actually trained to fight. Terrible . Why a California? Commission if they let you. ”
The seven-weight world champion Amanda Serrano shared the senitment and tweeted: “You have to stop this stupid celebrity boxing thing. Boxing is a serious game. There is nothing to do for YouTube fans.
“Most of the amateurs who go pro fight four rounds, these guys debut in a six round. Somebody gets really injured one day. Not cool at all.”
Jones Jr. pays tribute to Kobe Bryant
The fight naturally took place at the Staples Center – the home of the LA Lakers and the stage where the late, great Kobe Bryant wowed millions. Here Roy Jones Jr pays an emotional tribute …
Tyson responds to the drawing
Here are the immediate consequences of the fight …
Jones Jr. pays tribute to Kobe
Jones Jr. fought in the arena where Kobe Bryant played for most of his 20-year NBA career, paying tribute to the basketball icon who died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas along with 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others in January , California, tragically died.
He wore purple and gold Los Angeles Lakers gloves with pictures of Bryant and his old shirt numbers – 8 and 24 – on each hand.
“My contribution to Kobe Bryant,” said Jones Jr. while showing off his gloves in his post-fight interview.
“Yes sir (in his building). I had to pay tribute to Kobe because he was my youngest and tallest.
“Michael Jordan will always be my # 1 favorite, but Kobe and [Allen] Iverson is in second and third and LeBron [James]. ”
Paul: I’m going to take out McGregor
Jake Paul reiterated his intention to meet Conor McGregor after his devastating knockout of Nate Robinson – and to defeat him completely.
“I’ve been training my ass for the last year. I take it seriously,” Paul told Triller before revealing that he came into the fight Saturday after falling with a broken nose while meditating, rendering him incapable to save up to three days in advance.
“There’s a long list of opponents I want – Conor McGregor, Dillon Danis, I’ll take them both out.
“There’s my brother, there’s KSI on the line, Austin McBroom. I have wanted to be in this sport for a long time and I am in love with it. So why not “
Tyson: I’m not a giant … I’m a beginner!
A fun moment during the post-fight interview when Jones Jr. was asked if he was afraid he would ever get really hurt tonight.
Tyson quickly interjected: “I haven’t fought in 20 years, he only stopped fighting three years ago.
“Nobody cares about my ass. I haven’t fought in 15 years, he stopped fighting you years ago and everyone was worried about his ass.
“I haven’t done that in 15 or 16 years. I am not a giant, I am a beginner! “
While Tyson – who said he would donate his large wallet to charity – is interested in another exhibit, he’s not interested in obtaining a license for it.
“No, because that’s bigger than fighting to win a championship,” he said. “We are humanists, we help people.
“That’s bigger. That’s what I’m into now. “
“We have to do this all over again,” added Jones Jr. “Everyone loves Mike, I love Mike too.
“I’ll talk to my family and see how they feel about it. If they thought they enjoyed what they saw, we’ll come back and do it again if we want to do it again. “
Tyson was happy to take the distance
“I was very happy to be here and despite what everyone is saying, I was so happy to do eight laps,” continued Tyson.
“Because everyone knows that I can take someone off and everyone knows that I can do eight laps, ten laps, and for that I’m more grateful than anything else now.
“You have to be able to walk the distance. This is fight. “
.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2024/04/26/3955999-80333688-2560-1440.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1)
