Boxing

ROY JONES JR is still showing ‘incredible hand speed’ aged 51 as he continues to work on the ‘blueprint’ to beat Mike Tyson.
The American faces fellow legend Tyson on November 28 in an eight-round exhibition.

Roy Jones Jr is still showing ‘incredible hand speed’ aged 51

Tyson is training to fight Mike Tyson in November

Jones has linked up with trainer Tom Yankello, who last cornered the four-weight champion in 2014.
They have been splitting their time between Pittsburg and Florida, where Yankello has overseen the sparring and pad work.
And he has been left hailing the speed of Jones – who only hung up the gloves in 2018.
Yankello told SunSport: “His hand speed is still incredible.

“I don’t think his hand speed has decreased at all, he’s as fast as he was when I worked with him nine, almost ten years ago.
“His mobility is not maybe quite the same but he still has great agility, he’s kept himself in great shape.
“He still trains fighters so he’s been very active in the gym. He’s a lot more active than Mike Tyson.”
Jones won his last four fights, albeit against unfamiliar opponents in America.

But Tyson has not been in the ring for 15 years, having retired in 2005 after quitting against Irish journeyman Kevin McBride.
The 54-year-old has since dramatically transformed his body after beginning training earlier this year, with the plan to raise money for charity through his comeback.
But Yankello has warned performing in the gym is a stark contrast to doing the same over the course of a fight.
He explained: “Mike Tyson’s last fight was in 2005 whereas Roy’s was in 2018, so he’s not been out the ring anywhere near as long as Mike has.
“Mike looks in great shape as well but it’s a different type of shape, your body can look in great shape but boxing shape is completely different shape.
“Boxing is a different animal, when you’ve been out the game that long it’s very, very difficult to get back in boxing shape.
“I know Mike’s been working on it a long time and he’s going to be in the best shape he can possibly be in but Roy has been more active whereas Mike has had a lot more transformations in his body.”

Tyson has gone through a dramatic body transformation Credit: Instagram @miketyson

American legend Jones only retired in 2018
Tyson’s comeback was initially set for September but was then moved back two months to allow for more time to promote the pay-per-view spectacle.
But in Jones’ case, it has afforded him more time to work on tactics with trainer Yankello – who was brought into the training camp because of his understanding of Tyson’s style.
He said: “I think he really appreciates my knowledge on Mike Tyson
“I have my own YouTube channel, where I have done about a dozen little instructional things on Mike Tyson’s peekaboo style and then this fight got announced.
“I reached out to Roy and said I really know him and I think I have a real good grasp on Mike Tyson’s style and how to beat him.
“I know things that Roy does well which are things that can really give Mike Tyson a lot of trouble.”
After Jones won the WBA heavyweight title in 2003, he called to fight Tyson.

Trainer Tom Yankello with Jones

Yankello has been overseeing Jones’ sparring and pad work

Jones and Yankello last worked together in 2014
But Iron Mike was on his way out and had fallen out of love with the sport.
With Jones given a second chance to finally settle an old score, it has given him motivation to roll back to the clock to his days of superstardom.
Yankello said: “This fight has definitely sparked the interest of intensity for him this is something that is for bragging rights and legacy.
“There’s a lot of pride and ego for both guys.
“I think the intensity of the event and magnitude is definitely something that has brought the dedication and desire and passion for honing his craft and being in great shape.
“A lot of the things he did in the lighter weight classes, at middleweight and super-middleweight, those will be the things that he will bring to the table for this fight.
“Knowing the blueprint that has given Mike Tyson trouble in the past are things Roy does very well.”

Jones called to fight Tyson in 2003 after he won the heavyweight belt Credit: EPA

Tyson and Jones were unable to fight in 2003 Credit: EPA More

MIKE TYSON earned a mint as a boxer, film star and most recently a public speaker, but it’s his latest transformation as a drug dealer that could set him up for life.
The former heavyweight champ, famous for delivering a knockout punch, has been selling cannabis products since 2016 through his Tyson Holistic label that are as potent as one of his uppercuts.

Mike Tyson has built his own cannabis empireCredit: Instagram

The former heavyweight champ has been in the weed business since 2016Credit: Instagram

Tyson is building a luxury resort for cannabis-usersCredit: Instagram

Tyson, 54, is believed to earn around £500,000-per-month through his business that offers premium marijuana strains, edibles and extracts, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
‘Iron Mike’ is building a 418-acre weed-themed holiday resort he hopes will be home to a music festival to rival Coachella, as well as the world’s longest lazy river.
And aside from a luxury hotel and the lure of ‘glamping’ tents, there will be a Tyson University on site that will aim to teach cannabis cultivation tips to wannabe farmers.
After years of substance abuse with drugs including cocaine, Tyson – set to return to boxing against Roy Jones Jr in November – found comfort in marijuana, which is legal in California.

TYSON HOLISTIC
It made him, as he’s the first to admit, a much calmer person.
It encouraged him to partner up with businessman Rob Hickman four years ago, who pointed out what a difference weed has made to the ex-boxer’s life.
“It changed his life,” he told GQ. “He’s the perfect person.”
Buoyed by his discovery, Tyson also knew if it could aid him, then others would see the benefits too.

After years of substance abuse Tyson turned to marijuanaCredit: Refer to Caption

Smoking marijuana changed Tyson’s life and made him a calmer personCredit: Instagram

Tyson hopes to promote health and wellness with CBD productsCredit: Instagram

Edibles are also available on the Tyson Holistic website

He told Cannabis Tech Today: “I thought about how much good I could do by helping people with cannabis… it was a no brainer.”
Tyson Holistic’s goal is to engage in the debate of the healing properties of cannabis, and its ingredient CBD.
His company produces a CopperGel product, infused with CBD, that is clinically proven to provide relief from muscle joint pain and arthritis, as well as CBD doggy treats.
Tyson also invested his dough in CHILL, a company that makes CBD alkaline water.
He believes that CBD can help fight opiate addiction.
Tyson explained: “I’ve been fighting for over 20 years, and my body has a lot of wear and tear.
“I had two surgeries and I used marijuana to calm my nerves, and it would take the pain away…
“But before, they had me on those opiates, and those opiates had me all screwed up.”
On a recent episode of his Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson podcast, he revealed that Tyson Holistic makes around £500,000.
However he also confessed to smoking £40,000 of his own supply EVERY month.
In 2018, Tyson revealed his bold plan to expand his weed empire to a cannabis-themed theme park.
A map of the elaborate Tyson Ranch, built over 418-acres, showed off what punters can expect.

Tyson oversees plans for his elaborate ranchCredit: Instagram

The Tyson Ranch will be built across 418-acres

Tyson oversees the land where his planned expansion will be built in Desert Hot SpringsCredit: Instagram / @tysonranchofficial
Described as the ‘wonderland of weed’, guests will be able smoke marijuana anywhere within the resort, except where alcohol is sold.
But rather than be a hotspot for spring breakers looking to get high, it’ll be a holiday destination that promotes health and wellness.
Weed will not be grown on the premises, only sold, as Tyson takes advantage of his partnerships with big marijuana retail companies.
Customers can opt to stay in the confines of a luxury hotel, or go for a upscale camping set-up.
The Tyson Ranch will also boast the world’s longest lazy river – a water ride that usually starts in a shallow pool and flows towards a river at a slow current, allowing guests to ride along on a raft.
If you were thinking this was a Walter White/Jesse Pinkman Breaking Bad-style operation, you’d be wrong.
Despite being head of a weed empire, Tyson doesn’t actually grow any of the marijuana himself.
According to the Tyson Holistic website, it is sourced and inspected to reach his high-standards before it is given his seal of approval.
He insists that his strains are grown indoors, harvested based on maturity, cured over 30 days to ensure natural flavornoids, naturally derived, hand trimmed, pesticide-free and lab tested.

Although Mike Tyson has built a weed empire he doesn’t grow it himself

All the products are given Tyson’s seal of approval before he sells themCredit: Instagram
Hickman revealed: “We’re not burdened with bad crops. We’re not burdened with legalities. We’re selling paper. Packaging. And market share.”
In February 2019, Tyson used his ranch to house a small pop-up music extravaganza he called the Kind Music Festival as a sign of things to come.
He walked around the site, greeting revellers, who enjoyed acts including Miguel and A$AP Ferg.
Of course, punters were allowed to smoke the reefer and they could watch the performers in comfortable bean bags placed around the field.
And if you had the ‘munchies’, there were plenty of food trucks dotted around the ranch, although only a small fraction the size of a football-pitch was used.
“Mike Tyson’s building a whole ranch out here, y’all!’ It’s gonna have the world’s longest lazy river! This s*** is serious!’ the festival DJ shouted at the crowd before the party started.
He got that right.

Last year Tyson launched the Be Kind FestivalCredit: Instagram

The event was a success and Tyson is hoping to one day rival the nearby Coachella music festivalCredit: Instagram

Earlier this year, Tyson revealed he smokes about £40,000 worth of cannabis a month

Mike Tyson releases dance track for Roy Jones Jr fight with crazy vid and ‘lend me your ears or I’ll eat them’ lyrics More

MIKE TYSON has revealed he hated Michael Jackson’s guts after a backstage snub at one of the pop legend’s concerts.
The boxing icon is currently preparing for his in-ring comeback aged 54 in an exhibition fight against Roy Jones Jr next month.

Mike Tyson has revealed his hatred towards Michael Jackson before they became palsCredit: Instagram

The ‘King of Pop’ sensationally snubbed the ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’ backstage at a gigCredit: AFP

During his heyday of the late 80s and early 90s, the ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’ was one of the most-recognisable and biggest names in the world
One man that enjoyed just as much popularity and spotlight was the late ‘King of Pop’ Jackson.
However, Tyson has admitted he held a lot of anger towards the musician until the pair did eventually hang out.
Speaking on T.I.’s expediTIously podcast, the former world champion said: “I met Mike one day, I think he was at a concert in Cleveland, I’m with Don King.

“So me and Don come in, right? And I’m champ and everything, did all this s***, undisputed.
“So Don goes and Don gives Michael Jackson the ‘peace’ sign, like this. And then so Michael gives Don the ‘peace’ sign, and so I give Michael the ‘peace’ sign, and Michael put his hand down.
“In a way, I say, ‘Did he play me? Nah, he didn’t play me, he just didn’t see me. I knew he didn’t play me, cause I’m f***ing champ.”

Tyson and King continued to go backstage for the show – but the disrespect continued.
He continued: “So we went backstage, right? So I’m backstage, and so there’s his backstage, some of his singers and stuff.
“He’s on stage, it’s over I’m signing autographs and stuff, so Michael comes over and he talks to Don, he doesn’t talk to me. … I say ‘Let me just go on and meet Mike’, cause that’s really why I’m here, I want to meet Mike.
“And then I go over to meet Mike, … and he goes like this, ‘Don’t I know you from somewhere? Where I know you from?’
“He broke my ego, he crushed me. 
“I said ‘No, I’m just a fan, pleasure to meet you, sir. He said, ‘OK’, and then he got out and went in the car.”
Tyson admitted he refused to let go of the snub for years until Jackson finally invited him to hang out – an offer initially rejected by the fighter.

He added: “I said ‘OK I’m coming, I’ll be over there’, right?
“So I got on a plane, went over there, hung out, and we just started hanging out together. And I said ‘F*** man, he’s a good guy.
“But in my mind, I said ‘Why’d you play me though, Mike, why’d you play me like that? You knew who I was, why’d you play me?’”

Gervonta Davis says Mike Tyson still has that anger built up and looking to relieve it during Roy Jones Jr fight More