Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr., billed as “Lockdown Knockdown,” was an exhibition boxing for the ages. It was a clash between former undisputed heavyweight world champ “Iron” Mike and former four-division world champion Jones Jr. The fight happened on November 28, 2020, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Before anyone, it was podcaster and MMA play-by-play veteran Joe Rogan who was hyping it up on his JRE Show #1570.
Despite the split draw, the contest sold over 1.6 million pay-per-view (PPV) buys and generated over $80 million in revenue. Tyson’s return, albeit in an exhibition setting, held high hopes. Rogan himself was looking forward to the clash of his favorite icons as well. To this day, he maintains Jones Jr. was a blitz of a boxer; truly one-of-a-kind. But now Rogan, the conspiracy theorist that he is, is singing some other tune:
No, they were wearing cups…there’s a protector that boxers wear that’s different than the protector that MMA fighters wear. So the protector that boxers wear is foam that covers like the front of your hips…what I believe – I believe really truly to my core that they made an agreement where Mike Tyson was only going to hit him to the body full blast. It looked like every time he hit him to the head he was kind of pulling back. It seemed like a fight to the body.
Joe Rogan on the ‘JRE’ Show #2226 – w/ Theo Von – PowerfulJRE
Tyson will face controversial YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul on November 15. It will be his first pro fight since 2005 when he was stopped by little-known heavyweight Kevin McBride, and only his third time in the ring since. He also competed in another exhibition in 2006 against Corey Sanders.
More than 1.6 million buyers tuned in on pay-per-view to see Jones Jr. and Tyson compete in an eight-round exhibition in November 2020. The pair wore bigger gloves and fought under a very limited set of rules. But Jones Jr. later said that once consensus heavyweight icon Tyson still hits ‘like a mule kick’. However, Rogan postulates that there were some pre-arranged bits and bob for both. True or not, the same might hold for his bout with ‘Problem Child’.
Mike Perry wasn’t drug-tested before Jake Paul fight; speculates on if Mike Tyson can take PEDs due to age
Can a 58-year-old version of Tyson, who returned from a health scare last May, knock out Paul, the 27-year-old YouTube star? A lifelong cruiserweight now hydrating at bigger limits, Jake Paul has been making strides in his boxing career. Meanwhile, Mike Tyson has always been a killer—but he is now a 31-year senior with an ulcer flare-up and lesser mobility.
As the fight finally approaches, more boxing experts, former champions, and Tyson opponents pitch in on this made-for-streaming fight. Many students and coaches say he has still got it. However, with his age, many say Paul has this in the bag.
Sean O’Malley‘s long-time trainer, Tim Welch, discussed the idea of Tyson being on PEDs in a recent interview with Mike Perry. ‘Platinum’ was Paul’s last boxing opponent in an eight-round cruiserweight battle for DAZN pay-per-view. Paul won it with a sixth-round TKO in the Tampa headliner. Perry said he didn’t go through a test pool before the fight. Tyson could be the same.
When I fought Jake, I was undefeated, 6-0 as far as the last three years. Then I fought Jake, it was the first time I hadn’t been drug-tested. They tested me for all my fights, except for the Jake Paul fight. No excuses, I spar and train with people that are on the juice…didn’t test me at a fight of that magnitude against a fighter as important as Jake Paul is to the system they’ve got… I was surprised to not get tested.
Mike Perry on ‘Red Hawk Recap’ RHR 162 with Tim Welch for his YT channel (@TimWelchMT)
Despite the healthcare, Tyson requested the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations to officially have it as a pro-sanction. After that, it has been a swing of a pendulum as to which way it goes. TDLR isn’t really a fan of doping exemptions but to allow Tyson to juice up for a last dance is a whole other thing.
