Mike Tyson to face Roy Jones Jr in his comeback fight as they line-up September clash

The comeback is on! Mike Tyson’s first fight in 15 YEARS is confirmed… as 54-year-old boxing legend agrees to face Roy Jones Jr, 51, in an eight-round exhibition bout in September

  • Mike Tyson has been training heavily during lockdown in preparation for a return
  • The former undisputed heavyweight champion has had options for opponents
  • But it has now been confirmed Tyson will take on Roy Jones Jr in September

Mike Tyson will face Roy Jones Jr in his first fight for 15 years after finally sealing a comeback contest. 

Tyson has been undergoing rigorous training in recent months and he has been open in his willingness to return to the ring – with a number of possible opponents mooted.

But now he has confirmed a fight with Jones Jr, who is considered to be one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in history. The pair were filmed signing their contracts, with Tyson appearing to smoke marijuana as he did so.

Mike Tyson is set to come out of retirement for an exhibition fight against Roy Jones Jr

Jones Jr and Tyson are expected to face off in an eight-round clash on September 12 this year

Jones Jr and Tyson are expected to face off in an eight-round clash on September 12 this year

Tyson signing the contract for the fight

Jones Jr doing the same, penning the contract

Tyson signing the contract for the fight (left) and Jones Jr doing the same (right)

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It’s Official!!! MIKE TYSON I’M FIGHTING ROY JONES JR. … 8-Round Exhibition!!! The 54-year-old boxing legend has been training his ass off to get back in the ring … and now, we’ve learned his first opponent is one of the greatest fighters EVER! “Iron” Mike will take on Roy Jones Jr. on Sept. 12 in an 8-round exhibition being called Frontline Battle — available on Pay-per-view and on the social media platform, Triller. Mike Tyson/Weibo/AP We’re told the fight will take place in California — and will be sanctioned by the California State Athletic Commission. The event will include an undercard and live musical performances from top artists — and since Triller is backed by big stars like Snoop, Lil Wayne, Future, The Weeknd, Pitbull, Marshmello and more — the entertainment should be pretty solid! FYI, Triller is a rapidly growing social media platform that’s gunning to take over the TikTok crowd — and while it’s previously focused on music (including partnerships with major labels) it’s now making a concentrated foray into live events including sports. Tyson has been talking about a comeback for months and got some massive offers — so, we’re guessing Triller shelled out some big bucks to land the rights to his first comeback fight. There’s more … we’ve also learned Triller locked up the rights to a 10-part docuseries featuring Mike and Roy preparing for their fight … with 2 episodes dropping every week until fight night, streaming on the platform. As for the combatants, RJJ is 51 — and held titles in 4 different weight classes … middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight. Roy most recently fought in Feb. 2018 — but he’s been training constantly and feels he can compete with Tyson. Of course, Tyson hasn’t had a pro fight since June 2005 … and battled substance abuse and weight issues after he stepped away. But now, Tyson says he’s made health and fitness a priority again — and wants to get back into the ring to help raise money for charity.

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Tyson has been working out during lockdown as he prepares for a return to the ring

Tyson has been working out during lockdown as he prepares for a return to the ring

MIKE TYSON RECORD 

Total fights: 58

Wins: 50 | Losses: 6 | No contests: 2

Wins by KO: 44 

ROY JONES JR RECORD

Total fights: 75

Wins: 66 | Losses: 9

Wins by KO: 47 

The pair will face each other on September 12 in an eight-round exhibition clash that is being called ‘Frontline Battle’.

The intention is to make it available on pay-per-view and a social media platform called Triller.

The fight will be held in California, and will be sanctioned by the California State Athletic Commission.

Triller is backed by the likes of Snoop Dogg, Little Wayne and The Weeknd – and the event will feature an undercard and live musical performances.

Jones Jr has not competed at heavyweight level since losing to Antonio Tarver in 2004

Jones Jr has not competed at heavyweight level since losing to Antonio Tarver in 2004

Social media platform Triller is viewed as a competitor to TikTok and is now aiming to make a move into live events and sports.

Triller will also release a 10-part documentary series covering Tyson and Jones Jr’s preparation for the fight, with two episodes being released every week.

Jones Jr has an incredible reputation after holding titles in four different weight classes – middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight – during his career, which ended in February 2018.

He is confident he can compete with Tyson after training regularly since then. The former undisputed heavyweight champion, meanwhile, has not fought since 2005.

Tyson has been inactive since 2005 but has not been short of offers for comeback fights

While 54-year-old Tyson has also eyed a trilogy bout with Evander Holyfield, that will now have to wait.

Jones Jr said earlier on Thursday that he’d be willing to step into the ring with Tyson.

‘Yes, it’s true – Mike is a legend. It would be crazy to receive an offer to enter the ring with him and refuse,’ he told sports.ru.

‘I had no intention of going back and fighting again but, for the sake of Mike Tyson, I agree to make an exception. 

‘For me, this is an opportunity that I cannot refuse. Of all those who wanted to go into the ring with him, he chose me. 

Former undisputed heavyweight champion Tyson, now 54, has been preparing for a return

Former undisputed heavyweight champion Tyson, now 54, has been preparing for a return

‘And since he did that, how can I say no?’

Former two division champion Andre Ward previously claimed Jones turned down $40million to fight Tyson in 2003.

‘There was a Tyson fight on the table and I believe I’m accurate when I say that it was somewhere around $40m guaranteed,’ Ward told JRE Clips.

‘There was an upside too. You stay at heavyweight, keep the weight on, and Tyson wasn’t quite Tyson at that time. 

Tyson was eyeing a trilogy bout with Evander Holyfield but will now face Jones Jr

Tyson was eyeing a trilogy bout with Evander Holyfield but will now face Jones Jr

‘He was still dangerous but he wasn’t quite Tyson. I think they were working towards it. What I heard was Roy wanted more money.

‘Roy somehow said, ‘No, the fight will be there down the road,’ and put his attention to Antonio Tarver, and the rest is history. I wanted to see him fight Tyson and ride off into the sunset. One more and you’re out.’

Jones, now 51, runs a combat school in Moscow and has not competed as a heavyweight since losing his belt to Antonio Tarver in 2004 and retired as a cruiserweight 14 years later.  

Jones Jr fighting Enzo Maccarinelli during a bout in Moscow on December 12, 2015

Jones Jr fighting Enzo Maccarinelli during a bout in Moscow on December 12, 2015



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