Mike Tyson will fight for the first time since 2005 this weekend

Boxing legends Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr return to the ring in an exhibition contest this weekend.

The retired American duo are set to square off in Los Angeles in a hotly-anticipated - if somewhat bizarre - spectacle that was originally supposed to take place in September, before being delayed.

It has been 15 years since former undisputed world heavyweight champion Tyson, 54, called it quits during a shock defeat by Ireland’s Kevin McBride in 2005.

Meanwhile, 51-year-old Jones - a former four-weight world champion who remains the only boxer ever to win a heavyweight world title after beginning his career at light-middleweight - only called time on his 29-year, 75-fight career in 2018, after a farewell victory over Scott Sigmon in his hometown of Pensacola, Florida.

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Rules

Both men will wear heavier 12-ounce gloves but no head protection across rounds lasting only two minutes each, while there will also be no judges at ringside.

There have been suggestions that the exhibition bout - part of Tyson’s new Legends Only League venture - is likely to more resemble sparring than an actual competitive fight, with claims that neither boxer will be permitted to go for the knockout.

The contest will be refereed by the experienced Ray Corona and is expected to be halted if either Tyson or Jones Jr is cut.

The winner will receive a special ‘Frontline Battle Belt’, specially created by the WBC for his occasion.

Full fight card

The undercard for this unusual event features former two-weight world champion Badou Jack, while YouTube star Jake Paul returns to the ring for his second pro fight - this time against former NBA guard Nate Robinson.

Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr

Badou Jack vs Blake McKernan

Jamaine Ortiz vs Sulaiman Segawa

Irvin Gonzalez vs Edward Vasquez

Joe Cusumano vs Nick Jones

Jake Paul vs Nate Robinson

Viddal Riley vs Rashad Coulter

Date and venue

Tyson vs Jones Jr takes place on Saturday, November 28, 2020 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

How to watch: TV channel, live stream and UK start time

In the UK, Tyson vs Jones Jr is being shown exclusively live on BT Sport Box Office 2 - at a cost of £19.95 - and will follow the British heavyweight showdown between Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce in London.

Coverage will begin at 1am GMT on Sunday morning, with British fight fans looking at a start time of around 5am for the main event.

Tickets

There are no tickets available for this event, which is being held behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Purse

Tyson and Jones Jr are reportedly set to make an initial $10million (£7.5m) each from the fight, which could rise substantially if it proves to be the pay-per-view success than many anticipate.

Tyson had pledged to donate his purse to charity.

Prediction

With Tyson having long since retired and suggestions that this will be nothing more than a glorified spar, it’s difficult to state a definitive prediction.

‘Iron Mike’ has looked in fearsome condition in training videos posted online, while he boasts an obvious size advantage.

If both men are allowed to properly let their hands go and he quickly gets back into the swing of things, it isn’t too difficult to foresee Tyson forcing a stoppage.

However, Jones Jr has the far more recent in-ring experience and I can see him having the better of an odd spectacle that will leave fans expecting fireworks sorely disappointed.

Jones Jr to win.

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/mik...161330318.html