Mike Tyson weighed in at his lightest weight for 23 years before his exhibition fight against Roy Jones Jr on Saturday night in California.
While Jones weighed in at a career heaviest 210lb, Tyson - the natural heavyweight of the pair - came in at 220lb. That's the lightest 'Iron Mike' has been since his infamous 1997 rematch with Evander Holyfield when he bit a chunk out of the 'Real Deal's ear.
A bad omen for former pound-for-pound king Jones? The two then had an intense staredown, as Tyson marched up to the perspex screen separating the two at the weigh-in and the boxers engaged in the traditional face-off, before turning to flex their guns.
Jones kept his fight plan close to his chest, saying afterwards: "I can't tell you how to do it, it's probably going to look wrong. If I try to tell you it's probably going to sound wrong. But it's going to turn out right, trust me."
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Tyson, as you'd expect was a lot more direct.
"I'm pitching punches and anything else is up to Roy," said the former undisputed heavyweight champion. "If I am running anywhere, I am running right at him."
"As soon as I hit him good... I don't know, maybe I don't know how to go easy."
There has been some controversy about the rules and regulations for the bout. It'll be fought over eight, two-minute rounds with no headguards. But the California State Athletic Commission have suggested that, as an exhibition, the two combatants are not licensed to really hurt one another. Whether it plays out like that is another matter entirely.
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"I just don't want to say the wrong thing because some people get angry; the boxing commission," added Tyson.
"I'm gonna go right at him at the bell and see what happens. It's going to be entertaining. He's a fighter. I'm a fighter."
How much fight either man has left at 51 years old (Jones) and 54 years old (Tyson) and after two long careers in the ring is anyone's guess right now. But we will at least know the answer within 24 hours.
All imagery: PA Images
Topics: Mike Tyson, Boxing News, Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr, Roy Jones Jr, Boxing, Fight News
