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Roy Jones Jr profile: Boxing legend coming out of retirement to fight Mike Tyson aged 51


ROY JONES JR has claimed his fight against Mike Tyson will be like “David and Goliath”.

The two boxing legends are coming out of retirement for the showdown on September 12.

Roy Jones Jr is a former four-weight world championCredit: Getty – Contributor

Despite having a combined age of 105, the pair will go head-to-head in an eight-round exhibition bout.

Tyson had no shortage of offers as he prepared for his return to the ring 15 years after his retirement.

But Iron Mike confirmed with a social media clip that Jones Jr will be his next opponent.

SunSport have pulled together everything you need to know about the former four-weight world champ.

Jones Jr, who was born in Florida, enjoyed an incredible boxing career that spanned from 1989 until 2018.

He announced his retirement two years ago following his win over Scott Sigmon.

The 51-year-old hung up his gloves with a record of 66 wins from 75 fights including 44 knockouts.

Roy Jones Jr will stpe into the ring to face Mike Tyson in September

He won world championships at middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight.

Jones Jr looked unstoppable in the early stages of his career as he racked up a 49-1 record – with the one defeat coming from disqualification.

But he went on to lose seven on his 11 fights between 2004 until 2011.

Seven years later, the pound-for-pound king decided to hang up his gloves.

Ex-boxer Andre Ward claimed he turned down £33million to fight Tyson back in 2003.

Jones Jr, nicknamed Captain Hook, now runs a combat school in Moscow after he received joint American-Russian citizenship in 2015.

Despite having 75 professional fights, Jones Jr described the fight as “risky” in the first promo video.

He said: “Boxing’s a brutal sport. He [Tyson] dominated.

“His legs are huge, his thighs are huge, his arms are huge, his neck is huge. So it’s very risky, yes.

“I was beating everybody in every weight class I was in – what are you going to do?

“It’s like David and Goliath; he’s the giant and I’m little David with only God on my side – which is all I need.”

Mike Tyson was one of the most feared fighters on the planetCredit: AP:Associated Press

The 51-year-old stayed true to his word and accepted the fight after he claimed he would.

Earlier this month, he insisted it would be an honour to dust off his gloves to face Tyson.

He said: “Yes, it’s true – Mike is a legend. It would be crazy to receive an offer to enter the ring with him and refuse.

“I had no intention of going back and fighting again but, for the sake of Mike Tyson, I agree to make an exception.

“For me, this is an opportunity that I cannot refuse.

“Of all those who wanted to go into the ring with him, he chose me.

“And since he did that, how can I say no?”

As well being one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in history, Jones Jr launched his music career in 2001.

The first rap album he released was called “Round One: The Album.”

Roy Jones Jr lost to Joe Calzaghe in 2008Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd

He also dropped a number of hit singles including “Y’all Must’ve Forgot” and “Can’t be touched.”

Jones Jr has also been in his fair share of films throughout the years including The Matrix Reloaded.

Fans would hve also seen him in the likes of The Devil’s Advocate, Grudge Match, Southpaw and Creed II.

Roy Jones Jr has not fought since 2018Credit: EPA


Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk


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