The 54 year-old boxing icon showed he's still got some of his legendary skill and stamina during the lively exhibition bout Saturday, with 51 year-old Jones.
Tyson's return to the ring after a 15-year absence attracted fans who tuned in with intrigue to see how the fight between the two greats would transpire. Tyson tagged Jones with body shots and a handful of head punches during the eight two-minute-round fight. The event was required to be a safe glorious sparring session by the California State Athletic Commission. The veteran pair impressed throughout the fight, with Jones looking short of breath in the early stages.
Over all both Iron Mike and 'Captain Hook' impressed fans. The fight was unofficially ruled a draw by the WBC judges at ringside.
“The body shots definitely took a toll,” said Jones, the former four-division world champion widely considered the most skilled boxer of his generation. “It’s something to take the punches that Mike throws. I’m cool with a draw. Maybe we can do it again.”
“I hit you with some good shots, and you took it,” Tyson complimented Jones in return. “I respect that.” Tyson's most recent contest was a comprehensive defeat to Kevin McBride in 2005.
Tyson's idea of a boxing comeback seemed preposterous at first, but he posted a video of himself hitting pads on social media early in the wuhanvirus pandemic.
Overwhelming public response led to several lucrative offers for a ring comeback. The pay-per-view boxing event Saturday, was engineered by social networking app Triller.
"This is better than fighting for championships," Tyson said of the heavyweight exhibition, which raised money for various charities. "We're humanitarians now. We can do something good for the world. We've got to do this again. I would absolutely do this again."
Jones used his platform to pay tribute to sporting icon, late Kobe Bryant. The exhibition fight was staged at Staples Center, the arena where Bryant played the majority of his 20-year NBA career, winning five world championships.
Rapper performed in the build up to the event and took his seat alongside the ringside commentators to call the fight between Tyson and Jones. "This is like two of my uncles fighting at the barbecue," he remarked.
Tyson and Jones headlined the Saturday event which featured an undercard match between youtube influencer Jake Paul and ex-basketballer Nate Robinson. Paul won in a second round knockout.