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While there were no ringside judges to score
the eight-round contest between two of boxing's all-time greats,
both over 50, and no official winner, the World Boxing Council
formed a set of judges that remotely scored the bout.
"I'm used to doing it for three minutes," 54-year-old Tyson said
of the shorter rounds. "Sometimes, that two minutes felt like
three minutes. I'm happy I got this under my belt to keep doing
this and go further."
Tyson, 15 years removed from his ignominious defeat to Irishman
Kevin McBride in the last professional fight of his career, came
out firing and was in control of the bout the entire way.
Jones Jr, 51, was the more visibly fatigued of the two fighters
but managed to pick up the pace in the later rounds enough to
earn the win on one scorecard and a draw on the other while
Tyson took the third scorecard.
When the final bell rang, the two fighters shared a hug.
"The body shots definitely took a toll," said Jones Jr. a former
world champion in four different weight classes whose last
professional fight was in 2018.
"The body shots are what make you exhausted."
The two boxers were introduced by legendary ring announcer
Michael Buffer, who delivered his famous "Let's Get Ready To
Rumble" inside the Staples Centre which was void of fans given
the COVID-19 pandemic.
After the fight Tyson, who was once the most feared fighter on
the planet, shot down any idea of making a return to
professional boxing.
"This is bigger than fighting and winning the championship,"
Tyson said of exhibitions where he donates earnings to charity.
"We're humanitarians and we're helping people."
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
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