I’m over Tyson-Jones ‘fight’ talk already

Big hoopla yesterday was the announcement of an exhibition of Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. in an eight round contest to take place on September 12 on pay-per-view.  Everyone is making a big deal about this “fight,”  and I use that term as loosely as possible, for what I feel will play out as nothing more than an expensive “meet and greet”between two Hall of Famers moving around in the ring.

But, let’s call this what it is. This is an absolute circus and attention getting “cash grab” by both.

If you didn’t catch the signing of this “fight” yesterday, TMZ Sports had a piece up showing Tyson “smoking that reefer” as my grandparents would call it.

Must admit, this photo made me laugh:

Mike Tyson Signed Roy Jones Jr. Fight Contract While Smokin' a Jointhttps://t.co/ritx5z34PQ

— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) July 24, 2020

But, the chatter for a contest between these two men in their 50s, who are both clearly not in their boxing career prime, for an exhibition contest is nonsense. Further, making those who want to see it happen, pay for it? That’s even worse.

Let me stress to you all, it is a contest whose outcome will not change anyone’s argument of “who would win against who” or change any numbers in Boxrec.

Jones spoke to Dan Rafael of Boxingscene yesterday trying to make this sound like a death match,

“Mike comes to that ring and Mike’s coming to kill. When I go in there I’m going in there to kill or die. So you know how it’s gonna go,” Jones said to Boxingscene. “(The viewers) are gonna get what they paid for, trust me.”

I’m not buying any of that, and Andy Foster of the California State Athletic Commission, which is overseeing this dumpster fire, confirmed as much yesterday,

“This isn’t a situation where they’re going out there to try to take each other’s heads off,” Foster said to Yahoo! Sports on Thursday. “They’re just going to be in there moving around the ring and letting fans see these legends.”

That sounds more of what we were getting in this ‘fight’. Nothing more, nothing less. I’m not here knocking Jones trying to sell the event, but much the callbacks to “Rocky IV,” we need to let that go.

Foster told BoxingScene.com yesterday that Tyson and Jones Jr. won’t have any judges present at the fight to score the action. So, technically there won’t be a winner unless a knockout somehow occurs, or either fighter is deemed unfit to continue.

Referee Ray Corona will get the assignment for the night and be tasked with policing the level of competition and the “fierceness” in action.

No judges, No real danger in the ring and a referee known for “quick hooks” to end fights.

You all willing to pay for this?

I’m not and a supporting bout between YouTube Star, Jake Paul and a man who was NBA dunk champion, Nate Robinson, back when we all had a “Myspace” account, isn’t going to reel me in either.

Real legitimate boxing was announced by Showtime in their roll out of fights for the Fall, which needs to be mentioned with greater if not more attention that this  nothing burger with extra 90s boxing institutions slapped on the label taking place i September.