On November 28, 2020, boxing legends Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. stepped back into the ring for an exhibition match that captured the world's attention. The event, billed as "Lockdown Knockdown," saw the 54-year-old former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson face off against 51-year-old former four-division champion Roy Jones Jr. The eight-round exhibition took place at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Background
Tyson first mentioned the idea of returning to exhibition fights in a YouTube interview with rapper T.I. in April 2020, saying he wanted to get in shape to box three or four-round exhibitions for charities. He further teased a potential return by posting training videos on Instagram, declaring "I'm back."
Jones' last bout of his 29-year-long career took place on February 8, 2018, in which he defeated Scott Sigmon via unanimous decision at the Bay Center In Pensacola, Florida. Jones announced his retirement after the bout, but left the door open for a return against former UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, saying, "Dana, I know you're listening. I know Anderson's suspended. But that's the only other fight Roy Jones will return to the ring for. He has said he would not do that as it would be an insult to boxing.
After negotiations between Tyson's Legends Only League and Evander Holyfield failed, it was announced on July 23, 2020, that Jones had signed a contract to face Tyson, with the exhibition initially scheduled for September 12.
Event Details
Mike Tyson's Legends Only League announced that the event would include multiple high-profile boxers and musical performers to maximize the audience of the event. Undercards included social media star Jake Paul fighting NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Champion Nate Robinson.
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In August, the event was pushed back to November 28, 2020, to maximize revenue. At a press conference on October 29, it was announced that the fight would take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The event was officially sanctioned by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC).
Fight Statistics
While it was an unsanctioned bout, the WBC had three former professional boxers in Chad Dawson, Christy Martin and Vinny Paz provide unofficial scores. Per CompuBox, Tyson landed 67 total punches versus Jones' 37, coming out on top in both jabs and power punches landed.
Here's a breakdown of the punch stats:
Mike Tyson v Roy Jones Jr official fight highlights
Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr CompuBox Punch Stats
| Punches | Mike Tyson | Roy Jones Jr |
|---|---|---|
| Total Thrown | 193 | 236 |
| Total Landed | 67 | 37 |
| Percent (%) | 35% | 16% |
| Jabs Thrown | 56 | 85 |
| Jabs Landed | 10 | 9 |
| Percent (%) | 18% | 11% |
| Power Shots Thrown | 137 | 151 |
| Power Shots Landed | 57 | 28 |
| Percent (%) | 42% | 19% |
Reactions
Some of boxing's biggest personalities commentated on the fight on social media. Dan Rafael took exception to the scorecards, stating that Tyson "clearly dominated," as the punch stats would confirm. He called Vinny Paz's score for Jones "pure insanity."
Viewership and Revenue
Tyson vs Jones Jr sold over 1.6 million pay-per-view (PPV) at $49.49 per buy, making it one of the most successful PPV events of all time. The fight generated over $80 million in revenue, with Tyson and Jones Jr reportedly receiving a guarantee of $1 million plus a share of the PPV revenue.
Read also: Jones' MMA Dominance
Fight Card Results
- Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. (Split Draw)
- Jake Paul def. Nate Robinson (Knockout)
- Badou Jack def Blake McKernan (Unanimous Decision)
- Jamaine Ortiz def. Sulaiman Segawa (Technical Knockout)
- Edward Vasquez def.
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