Mike Tyson returns to the ring after 15 years
“Iron Mike” is back! The former undisputed heavyweight champion is making a comeback this year.
Announced today, Mike Tyson will fight Roy Jones Jr. in an eight-round exhibition on September 12. The match will be on pay-per-view and on multimedia platform Thriller live from the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
Mike released a statement on social media and on ESPN.
Mike spoke to ESPN’s First Take to explain his return to the ring.
“It is because I can do it. And I believe other people believe they can do it too,” said Tyson. “Just because we are 54. It doesn’t mean that we have to start a new career and our lives are totally over. Not when you feel as beautiful as I do and I’m sure that other people feel the same way.”
“I never took that many punches. After the last fight I had, I left and I lived my life, and I’ve been through some experiences and now I’m back here. I feel like I took better care of my body and my state of mind than most of the fighters before me that retired and came back.”
Last month, Jones admitted his interest in a potential bout with Tyson.
“I’ve been trying to enjoy retirement, but people don’t seem to want to let me retire,” said Jones. “They keep calling me, telling me that Mike wants to come back and that you’d be a great opponent for Mike.
“We always wanted to see it, but I would’ve preferred it back then. Tyson is a hell of a specimen still. Still, a problem to deal with. But at the same time, life is life, you only live once. You want to know what it’s like, you go in there and see. You still gotta see it.”
“We’re both accomplished fighters, we know how to take care of ourselves,” he said. “It’s an eight-round exhibition. And, listen, we’ll be alright. Trust me, We can take care of ourselves.”
(Image: Donat Sorokin/TASS)
The executive director of the California State Athletic Commission, Andy Foster, said that he believed there wouldn’t be headgear, but that the boxers would use 12-ounce gloves in an interview with Yahoo Sports.
