This fight nearly happened back in 2003. It didnt because Roy Jones turned down the £33 million pay packet. At this point Roy Jones had just beaten John Ruiz at HW. Mike Tyson had just beaten Clifford Ettiene. Mike Tyson's very next fight was a knock out loss to Danny Williams. Roy Jones next fight was a razor close UD win over Tarver. He then went onto suffer a brutal KO loss in the rematch with Tarver and a brutal KO loss to Johnson. Roy arguably had more left at this point. But he was just entering into his second career where he suffered a number of brutal KO losses. Tyson was basically done at this point but still had serious power.
I remember this differently. I think Tyson was struggling with addiction around this period. Jones was looking for lucrative PPV opponents and wanted Holyfield or Jones. I know Holyfield is on record as saying he didn't want to be made to look like a fool against Jones. But I think Tyson turned it down too. As for the fight. Tyson early or Jones by decision
According to this article, it was Roy who didnt want the fight https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/b...d-33M-fight-Mike-Tyson-2003-wanted-money.html At that point I think that Tyson was sufficiently washed to not be capable of nailing Roy. I would have picked Roy by a wide UD. The biggest mistake of Roy's career was moving up to HW and then moving back down so quickly from HW. It really ****ed up his reflexes and athletic agility.
Tyson by ko. He only would need a single punch and roy is not avoiding every single punch for 12 rounds and Tyson would not respect roy at all
Tyson was still a big threat to a small man over the first 2 rounds. Ward heard this through so we don't know the exact specifics of why it didn't happen: This content is protected Bad career decision if true though. He got baited by Tarver attending his press conferances. Should of made Tarver come to HW
The idea of Jones Jr as a genuine heavyweight never really gelled, as far as I could tell. Yes, there was talk. Lots of talk. But, I don't recall any serious intent from Jones to make a fight with a genuinely dangerous Heavyweight. I don't think anyone was giving Jones Jr a chance against even a 2003 version of Tyson. OK - there was a serious negotiation going on for a Holyfield bout. Although, as it turned out, Holy was a bit less dangerous than he had been, once upon a time, with his form having fallen off quite severely, by then. But, the fight fell through anyway and we got Holyfield-Toney, instead. There were a few others in the top-10 that Jones Jr might have realistically gone for, e.g. Byrd, but that one didn't ever look like it could happen either.
At the end of the day, he was a 34 year old former MW who wanted fantasy money to continue at the weight. Can’t blame him. I’m just happy the Sanders fight never happened.
One of a few heavyweight contests that we should be grateful never came off - no matter the amount of money involved.
