Boxing legends Tyson, Jones fight to a draw

CEBU, Philippines —  The eight, two-minute per round exhibition bout between heavyweight boxing legends 'Iron' Mike Tyson (50-6, 44KOs) and Roy Jones Jr. (66-9, 47KOs) behind closed doors yesterday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California ended in a draw.

Though not officially scored by the California State Athletic Commission, boxing Hall of Famers in Christy Martin, Vinny Pazienza and Chad Dawson served as WBC’s unofficial judges.

Martin penned it 79-73 for Tyson, who fought for the first time since being stopped in the seventh round by Irish journeyman Kevin McBride 15 years ago.

Interestingly, Dawson saw the fight even, 76-76, while Pazienza had it 80-76 for Jones, thus, the draw.

Some fans though believed that the 54-year-old Tyson, one of the most dominant heavyweight champions of all time, won over the 51-year-old Jones, who admitted that Tyson hurt him throughout the bout, particularly with body blows.

"Tyson showed more power and speed than his younger, lighter, and taller opponent. Even at his advanced age, you could still see flashes of the fighter that was once the most feared human on the planet. He still had hand speed and technical ability that was too much for Jones, and appeared to be in much better condition," wrote Collin Sherwin of draftkings.com.

Still, Tyson was happy about the outcome which he even applauded.

"I'm good with that (draw). The crowd was happy with that," Tyson told Agence France Presse.