Roy Jones Jr. had some time to think about his boxing match against Mike Tyson since it was announced in July and admitted that he might’ve made the wrong decision.
Jones spoke with Sky Sports last week and said although the fight is supposed to be an exhibition, he doesn’t believe that Tyson sees it that way. The fight, set for eight rounds, originally was scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 12, in Carson, California, but it was pushed back to Nov. 28 so promoters could attract more fans. Both boxers have come out of retirement for the bout.
“When it comes time to fight, we’re going to fight,” said Jones. “If it comes down to bite, we’re going to bite. Whatever has to happen is going to happen. That’s just what it is. He’s still Mike Tyson. He’s still one of the strongest, most explosive people who ever touched a boxing ring. If anything, I made a mistake going in with him. He’s the bigger guy. He’s the explosive guy.”
Like Jones, Tyson has been talking about the highly anticipated bout, and he implied on “The Dan Patrick Show” that he’ll be approaching it like a real fight instead of taking it easy on Jones like boxers often do in exhibition bouts.
“We’re throwing punches at each other,” said Tyson in August. “This is going to be my definition of fun … broken eye sockets, broken jaw, broken rib. That’s fun to me.”
Earlier this month, Tyson was a guest on the “Joe Rogan Experience” and said he began seriously training to box in April of this year, then began sparring soon afterward. It was the first time he sparred in 15 years, and he knew that he made the right decision after exchanging punches.
“It was really weird and stuff,” Tyson told Rogan. “I got hit a couple of times, I didn’t go ‘What the f–k am I doing?’ I said, ‘Wait, I belong here.'”
During his interview with Sky Sports, Jones also said that he belongs in the ring and is fighting Tyson simply for the challenge.
“Mike is powerful. He don’t lose his power. His power is the last thing to go. So he’s not going to lose his power or his explosiveness,” Jones explained. “If you seen the videos he’s been putting out, he’s been very explosive and very powerful. … Now, it may not last more than five rounds. … So you probably got to dance around him for four or five rounds or try to survive four or five rounds. … Then you can fight him.”
“I love challenges,” Jones continued. “Anything that seems like it’s impossible or something that I shouldn’t do that’s what I love to do. Exactly what you tell me I can’t or I shouldn’t do is what I want to do. He’ll bring speed and power, I’ll bring explosiveness and power.”
