Behind the smoke screen, nostalgia, curiosity and a convincing comeback: Mike Tyson made his return to the ring at 54, despite a draw conceded against Roy Jones Jr, 51, at a party on Saturday until then saved by Snoop Dogg.
Expected with a mixture of excitement and excitement by lovers of the noble art, the exhibition between Tyson and Jones Jr did not disappoint. If no winner was chosen at the end of the eight rounds of two minutes – a duration which proved to be very reasonable, with all due respect to the original complaints of the protagonists – the two boxers showed that they still had some in gloves.
When the decision was announced, Tyson appeared to be much cooler than Jones Jr., still sweating and worn out from the “body blows that took their toll,” he said. “You took it well, because I sent you some.” I respect that ”, replied“ Iron Mike ”, who thought he had won, but was satisfied with the result. “The draw suits me!” “He assured, urging her to” put it back. “
Tyson more aggressive
Dressed in flowing black shorts as in his heyday, Tyson was as expected the most aggressive, starting each round with a bang and advancing incessantly towards Jones Jr, more mobile, who was able to respond backwards with the tips of his gloves to Lakers colors, flocked with numbers 8 and 24 in tribute to Kobe Bryant, who died at the end of January in a helicopter crash.
Enough to inspire yet another punchline to Snoop Dogg, who had just performed a medley of his greatest hits, curls of cannabis cigarettes as a bonus. “Looks like two of my uncles fighting over the barbecue!” », Exclaimed the rapper, winner by KO with the comments vis-a-vis the consultant Sugar Ray Leonard, hardly inspired.
Despite the “exhibition” framework set by the California Athletic Commission (CSAC) to preserve their physical integrity, the two boxers, prepared for several months and subjected to doping tests, have, as promised, delivered a “real fight”.
Panache
Evidenced by this jab sent full face by Jones Jr in the 2nd round, the two big left-right hooks of Tyson to the body and the temple in the 5th, these blows also which he released after the gong of the 3rd, apologizing immediately by taking the head of his victim “tenderly” on his shoulder.
Neither lacked panache, and Tyson can be proud of his pathetic exit from 2005, when he lost his last professional fight to Irish stranger Kevin McBride.
“I’m really happy with these eight times and even more to have held off. I was afraid of hurting myself. Why doesn’t anyone care about this for me? I haven’t done this for fifteen years, ”he said.
Behind closed doors requires in these times of galloping pandemic, there were no raging fans in the stands of the Staples Center in Los Angeles, no electricity that usually spices up the big nights.
So much so that it began in a certain embarrassment, in a very dark high-tech decorum, aimed at better highlighting the white ring, on which a sports betting site was displayed as sponsors, another serving cannabis directory (legalized in California).
A possible fight in the south of France
After the match, Mike Tyson expressed his desire to continue boxing next year, raising the possibility of a fight in the South of France.
“My body is gorgeous, I’m going to make it fight a little harder. I want to continue this momentum. Maybe we’ll do something in the south of France – Monaco or Saint-Tropez – with a European fighter, ”said Tyson.
Many are speculating on the identity of his potential next opponent. If it could be the former world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield, who beat him twice (1996 and 1997), the last of which at the cost of ear bites that were remembered and caused the disqualification Tyson’s name, Lennox Lewis is another possibility.
“Anything is possible – the sky is the limit. I believe we have broken all pay-per-view records for a night of boxing. I just want to continue to do this from a humanitarian point of view, ”said the star of the rings, whose return to 54 years, after 15 years without boxing, is animated by the will to help the homeless and the drug addicts by raising money with this kind of fights exhibitions.
