Divided opinion on exhibition fight
Two local promoters are divided about who will win the eight-round exhibition fight between Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
WINDHOEK
In May this year, 54-year-old former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson proved that he still has what it takes to be in the ring when he showed off his incredible punching power in a montage of workouts posted on Instagram.
Soon after this video, news of a friendly, informal and unofficial exhibition fight against 51-year-old Roy Jones Jr was announced. The fight was supposed to take place on 12 September but was postponed until 28 November to attract a greater audience. The fight is also part of the Tyson Legends Only League, which will support older athletes hoping to return to sport.
Local opinion
Local boxing promoter Nestor Tobias from MTC Sunshine Boxing Academy says Jones will be blown away by Tyson. “It will be a knockout, Tyson is a natural heavyweight,” he says. On the other hand, Immanuel Moses from AC Boxing Academy says he can't put money on an exhibition fight. “It's more like training outdoors. If it was a real fight, I would put my money on Jones, because he has the legs to move around and outbox Tyson.
“Tyson only has a chance if he lands one shot in the first two rounds. I don't think he can do much if he doesn't catch Jones with a good shot.”
Moses adds that both boxers were good champions in their prime. “We all saw how they were knocked out by C-level fighters in their last three fights before they retired.”
He feels that the fight should have taken place during the first lockdown as they will not pull a large crown now that professional boxing is resuming.
Records speak for themselves
Tyson last fought in June 2005, retiring after refusing to continue after the sixth round of a fight with Kevin McBride.
Tyson enjoyed a lucrative career. He was the undefeated and undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. He held the WBC, WBA and IBF titles; with 58 fights, 50 wins of which 44 were knockouts, six losses and two no contest.
Jones, on the other hand, also captured numerous championships throughout his career.
He dominated champions thorough the 1990s and early 2000s. He continued boxing long past his prime, losing three in a row between 2009 and 2011, suffering a knockout loss in 2015, and then taking on inferior competition up until 2018.
He has a total of 75 fights, 66 wins (44 knockouts), and nine losses.
WINDHOEK
In May this year, 54-year-old former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson proved that he still has what it takes to be in the ring when he showed off his incredible punching power in a montage of workouts posted on Instagram.
Soon after this video, news of a friendly, informal and unofficial exhibition fight against 51-year-old Roy Jones Jr was announced. The fight was supposed to take place on 12 September but was postponed until 28 November to attract a greater audience. The fight is also part of the Tyson Legends Only League, which will support older athletes hoping to return to sport.
Local opinion
Local boxing promoter Nestor Tobias from MTC Sunshine Boxing Academy says Jones will be blown away by Tyson. “It will be a knockout, Tyson is a natural heavyweight,” he says. On the other hand, Immanuel Moses from AC Boxing Academy says he can't put money on an exhibition fight. “It's more like training outdoors. If it was a real fight, I would put my money on Jones, because he has the legs to move around and outbox Tyson.
“Tyson only has a chance if he lands one shot in the first two rounds. I don't think he can do much if he doesn't catch Jones with a good shot.”
Moses adds that both boxers were good champions in their prime. “We all saw how they were knocked out by C-level fighters in their last three fights before they retired.”
He feels that the fight should have taken place during the first lockdown as they will not pull a large crown now that professional boxing is resuming.
Records speak for themselves
Tyson last fought in June 2005, retiring after refusing to continue after the sixth round of a fight with Kevin McBride.
Tyson enjoyed a lucrative career. He was the undefeated and undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. He held the WBC, WBA and IBF titles; with 58 fights, 50 wins of which 44 were knockouts, six losses and two no contest.
Jones, on the other hand, also captured numerous championships throughout his career.
He dominated champions thorough the 1990s and early 2000s. He continued boxing long past his prime, losing three in a row between 2009 and 2011, suffering a knockout loss in 2015, and then taking on inferior competition up until 2018.
He has a total of 75 fights, 66 wins (44 knockouts), and nine losses.
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