Iron Mike Returns: Tyson Steps Back Into the Ring
Written by Andrew Goldberg
One of the biggest names in boxing is stepping back into the ring.
On Thursday Mike Tyson, 54, announced his return to the boxing world via social media as he prepares to take on former heavyweight champion Roy Jones Jr. Tyson, who last fought in 2005, said on ESPN’s First Take that he does not expect his age or the long layoff to be an issue.
“Just because we are 54 doesn’t mean that we have to start a new career and our lives are totally over. Not when you feel as beautiful as I do, and I’m sure that other people feel the same way.”
The bout will not be a pushover for Tyson, however, as Jones Jr. has had prolific career in his own right. Owner of a 66-9 career record and title belts at the middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight level, Jones Jr., 51, will be looking to spoil Tyson’s debut with a knockout of his own.
The two champions will go at it in an eight-round exhibition on September 12 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. Fans will have the opportunity to watch via pay-per-view or on the digital media app Triller.
The match is expected to draw major numbers as boxing fans around the globe look to see if “Iron Mike” has any magic left in his fists. The former undisputed champ first took the boxing world by storm in 1986 when he became the youngest heavyweight champion in history at just 20 years old. He would go on reign over all competitors throughout the eighties until finally losing in a stunning upset to little-known competitor Buster Douglas in 1990.
The following decade earned Tyson a decidedly different version of fame. After a rape conviction in 1992, Tyson spent three years in prison before returning to the ring in a series of comebacks, the most notable of which involved matchups against rival Evander Holyfield. Tyson would lose twice to Holyfield, with the second match ending in disqualification after Tyson repeatedly bit into Holyfield’s ear.
In recent years, however, Tyson has worked hard to rehabilitate his image. In 2012 Tyson launched the “Mike Tyson Cares Foundation”, which has dedicated itself to the assistance of children from broken homes to “give kids a fighting chance.”
Additionally, Tyson has also found success in other areas of the entertainment world. From publishing his autobiography Undisputed Truth in 2013 to launching his own promotion company and YouTube channel, Iron Mike has continuously opened himself up to curious fans and viewers. He’s even starred in the popular animated series Mike Tyson Mysteries on Adult Swim.
Yet despite these current victories, Tyson still has his sights set on where it all began. And whether or not he is able to defeat Roy Jones Jr., one thing remains certain: Iron Mike is once again the talk of the boxing world.