Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr pushed back to Thanksgiving weekend
Roy Jones Jr
The proposed exhibition between Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr has been pushed back to November 28 in a bid to maximise the events revenue.
The pair, who were originally scheduled to face off on September 12, will still face off in an eight-round contest on social media app Triller. While some fans speculated on the postponement being an intimidation tactic from Tyson, the decision is said to have been made mutually after a meeting between the two camps.
The date was likely chosen as it falls on Thanksgiving weekend, a time which Americans spend at home with their family.
In an interview with Yahoo Sports, Jones said: “People are going to be sitting at home with nothing on TV and nothing to do, and they hear Mike and Roy are fighting, what do you think they're going to do?
“Hell yeah, they're going to watch. You wait and see. They'll tune in.”
Tyson and Jones are all time greats in the sport
The fight will still take place at the Dignity Health Sports Park in California and is likely to be without fans unless a vaccination is found for Covid-19.
The two former champions will go head-to-head in what the California State Athletic Commission has described as a hard-sparring session.
Andy Foster, executive director of the commission told Boxing Scene: “We can't mislead the public as to this is some kind of real fight. They can get into it a little bit, but I don't want people to get hurt, they know the deal.
“It's an exhibition, they can exhibit their boxing skills, but I don't want them using their best efforts to hurt each other.
“This is not world championship boxing right now. It’s not what this is. People shouldn’t be getting knocked out.”
Tyson and Jones dismiss Foster's statement
Despite these warnings, the fighters have made headlines by telling interviewers they intend to treat the exhibition match as a real fight.
In an interview with TMZ, Tyson said: “Hurting people is what I’m about…this is search and destroy.
“If the opportunity [for a knockout] comes, I'm always looking for it, we're both professionals, we know how to handle ourselves and whatever happens, happens.”
Jones responded in an interview with Yahoo Sports, saying: “Andy Foster can't control Mike once Mike gets in the ring. I've got to defend myself like I'm in a real fight. If Mike goes out there and decides to start hammering, what am I supposed to do, look at Andy?”
The fight will be available on pay-per-view and via the social media app Triller for a pricey $49.99 in the US.
Despite criticism from fans and media alike, Tyson told TMZ his own purse will go to charity.
“Now I’m doing it with a lot more enthusiasm because I’m doing it for someone else. It’s going to be for various charities.
“Nobody has to ever worry about me getting rich, or getting jealous, or saying I’m doing this for money. I’m not getting anything. I just feel good doing this because I can.”
By Joe Greenough
